Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 23, 2026) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (OTCQX: SSVFF), Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is focused on developing the Cerro las Minitas Ag-Zn-Au-Cu project in Durango, Mexico., is pleased to announce that it will present at Red Cloud's Fall Mining Showcase 2026. Shareholders and interested parties are invited to attend the event and learn more about the company’s latest developments.
The annual conference will be hosted in-person, at the Omni King Edward Hotel, Toronto on October 28 & 29, 2026, bringing together investors, mining companies and industry leaders.
Rob Macdonald, will be presenting on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 1:40PM Eastern Standard Time.
For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://redcloudfs.com/fallminingshowcase2026/.
We look forward to seeing you there.
About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our specific emphasis is the 100% owned Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico’s Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, Los Gatos, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. Located in the same State as the Cerro Las Minitas property is the newly acquired Nazas, gold-silver property. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project and the Hermanas gold-silver vein project, with permitting applications for the conduct of a drill program is underway, both located in southern New Mexico, USA.
On October 22, 2026, Southern Co SO shares rose 3.8%, bringing the current price to $93.82. The stock is trading within a 52-week range of $81.69 to $99.58.
GF Value™ verdict: Current price is $93.82, compared to GF Value™ of $93.96, indicating it is 0.1% undervalued.GF Score™ of 68/100 suggests the stock is above average in terms of overall quality and valuation.Notable signal: Insiders sold $5.6 million worth of shares over the past 12 months, with no buying activity reported.Is SO Overvalued or Undervalued?The current valuation of Southern Co SO at $93.82 is slightly below the GF Value™ estimate of $93.96, indicating a marginal 0.1% undervaluation. However, given that SO has struggled with profitability and cash flow issues, the reliability of the GF Value™ as a precise fair-value target is questionable. Instead, it serves as a directional warning for investors. When assessing companies that have not consistently generated profits, like Southern Co, focusing on earnings-based valuations can be misleading and should be approached with caution.
This scenario highlights the importance of considering alternative metrics, such as Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratios, which historically for Southern Co, have averaged around 3.0x. Given that SO is currently trading with a P/S multiple that diverges from this historical norm, potential investors may need to weigh the risks involved in relying solely on the GF Value™ when making investment decisions.
How Does SO's Valuation Compare to Its History?MetricCurrentHistoricalP/E (TTM)22.6x22.6xForward P/E19.1xN/AThe current P/E of Southern Co stands at 22.6x, which is exactly in line with its 5-year median P/E of 22.6x. Additionally, the forward P/E ratio of 19.1x suggests a possible future earnings improvement. This consistency in P/E ratios indicates that the stock is trading at a historical valuation that aligns with its past performance, supporting the claim of it being fairly valued according to the GF Value™ verdict. Thus, the P/E analysis generally agrees with the GF Value™ assessment, reinforcing the notion that the stock's valuation appears stable.
What Does SO's GF Score™ Tell Us?The GF Score™ is a comprehensive metric that evaluates a stock based on various factors, including financial strength, profitability, growth potential, valuation, and momentum. Southern Co's GF Score™ of 68/100 indicates that it is above average compared to its peers.
MetricRatingGF Score™68Financial Strength3/10Profitability7/10Growth7/10Valuation9/10Momentum1/10The strongest areas for Southern Co are its profitability and growth ranks, both rated at 7/10, suggesting a solid capacity for generating earnings and expanding. However, the financial strength rank of 3/10 raises concerns about the company’s stability and ability to meet long-term obligations, while the momentum rank of 1/10 indicates weak price performance in the recent past. This mix of strengths and weaknesses suggests that while there are positive growth and profitability indicators, the financial stability and recent performance could deter potential investors.
What Are Gurus and Insiders Doing with SO?Southern Co currently has 9 gurus holding the stock, with 2 adding to their positions and 5 trimming their holdings in recent quarters. This mixed activity from institutional investors could reflect a cautious outlook on the stock, signaling potential concerns about its future performance.
Furthermore, insider activity reveals that insiders have sold $5.6 million worth of shares over the past year without any reported purchases. This selling could signal a lack of confidence from those closest to the company, suggesting that insiders may not view the current valuation as favorable. Such patterns could imply that caution is warranted for potential investors, as insider selling often raises red flags regarding the company's future prospects.
What This Means for InvestorsBased on the analysis above, Southern Co appears fairly valued according to the GF Value™ estimate, with a slight undervaluation of 0.1%. However, due to its profitability struggles, cash flow issues, and the concerning insider selling, potential investors should approach with caution. The mixed signals from both insider and guru activities, combined with the low financial strength rank, suggest that while there may be some opportunity, significant risks remain. For more detailed insights, you can visit the Southern Co SO stock page for further analysis.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is SO's GF Score™?
Southern Co has a GF Score™ of 68/100, indicating it is above average in quality and valuation metrics compared to its peers.
Is SO overvalued or undervalued?
According to the GF Value™ estimate, SO is currently slightly undervalued at 0.1% below its fair value of $93.96.
What is SO's P/E ratio?
The P/E ratio for Southern Co (TTM) is 22.6x, which aligns with its 5-year median P/E, indicating stability in its valuation.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
New leadership role aligns economic growth, workforce development and community investment to support Mississippi's future
, /PRNewswire/ -- Mississippi Power today announced that Jamie M. Miller has been named senior director of Economic, Workforce and Community development, a newly expanded leadership role that reflects the company's commitment to helping communities grow, businesses succeed and Mississippi prosper.
Jamie Miller
The new role brings together Mississippi Power's economic development, workforce development, community development and philanthropic efforts under a single leader, creating greater alignment around initiatives that support job creation, workforce readiness, community investment and long-term economic growth across the state. The position will report directly to Pedro Cherry, president and CEO of Mississippi Power.
"Mississippi has tremendous opportunity ahead, and Mississippi Power is committed to helping our communities capture that opportunity," Cherry said. "Economic development, workforce development, community investment and philanthropy are deeply connected. Bringing those responsibilities together under one leader strengthens our ability to be an even stronger partner to the communities we serve while helping create opportunities that improve quality of life across our state."
Cherry said Miller's extensive experience and relationships across Mississippi make him uniquely qualified to lead the effort.
"Jamie understands what it takes to bring people together around a shared vision for growth," Cherry said. "He has built trusted relationships throughout the Gulf Coast and across Mississippi, and he understands the critical connection between economic opportunity, workforce readiness and strong communities. His leadership will help Mississippi Power further strengthen its role as a catalyst for growth and prosperity while deepening its commitment to the communities we are privileged to serve."
Miller joins Mississippi Power after serving as president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Business Council, where he led regional initiatives focused on economic competitiveness, workforce development, innovation and quality of place. Selected in 2022 as the Council's fourth chief executive, he helped align private-sector, government and community leaders around priorities that strengthen Coastal Mississippi.
A nearly three-decade leader in public policy and economic and community development, Miller's career has included leadership roles at the local, state and federal levels. His experience spans municipal planning, post-Katrina recovery efforts, service as a congressional chief of staff, leadership of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and service on the executive leadership team of the Mississippi Development Authority.
"I am honored to join Mississippi Power and excited about the opportunity to help advance the company's commitment to communities across our state," said Miller. "Mississippi's future is bright, and I look forward to working alongside local leaders, economic developers, businesses and community partners to help create opportunities that benefit current and future generations."
During a transition period, Miller will continue supporting the Gulf Coast Business Council while the organization conducts a search for its next chief executive. Mississippi Power and the Council will continue working together to advance regional collaboration and economic growth opportunities for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and throughout the state.
Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and affordable energy for more than 194,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Mississippi Power has served its communities for more than a century and is an industry leader in safety, reliability, customer satisfaction and economic development. The Southeastern Electric Exchange recognized the company for Top Safety Performance in its generation category, and The Edison Electric Institute has recognized Mississippi Power's reliability with multiple Emergency Response Awards for outstanding storm response. Site Selection magazine named Mississippi Power a top utility driving economic development in the United States. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube for company updates.
Southern Company has raised its dividend every year since 2002, but a multi-billion dollar spending spree to power data centers is putting that streak under new pressure from rising debt and fresh share sales.
Southern Company (NYSE:SO | SO Price Prediction) declared another quarterly dividend on October 20, 2026. For retirees, the real question is whether the payout can keep rising while the company spends billions on new generation to serve data centers. Rising regulated earnings support the dividend, but new debt and new stock are funding part of that spending.
A Two-Decade Streak of Raises Southern’s quarterly dividend has gone up every year since 2002, climbing from $0.3425 that year to $0.76 in 2026. The latest increase, from $0.74, is about 2.7%. That puts the annualized forward dividend at $3.04 and the yield at 3.29%, with shares at $91.18. Raises are small, but they show up every year.
Earnings Coverage Has Room to Spare Management expects 2026 adjusted EPS to land “near or at the top” of its $4.50 to $4.60 range. On that guidance, the dividend uses about 66% to 68% of earnings. Second-quarter adjusted EPS came in at $1.13, beating the $1.00 consensus, and first-half adjusted EPS reached $2.46.
Data centers account for much of the earnings growth. Data-center usage ran 55% higher than a year earlier, and signed large-load agreements now exceed 17 GW by the mid-2030s. Those contracts include minimum bills that cover at least 100% of the extra cost to serve. On the earnings call, management put it:
“Large load customers are paying their full share.”
CEO Chris Womack linked that growth to rate stability for existing customers:
“With retail base rates held stable in both Georgia and Alabama until 2029, and significant customer benefits identified and committed to based on previously signed large load contracts, we are demonstrating that when growth is done right, everyone benefits.”
Cash Flow Is Where the Pressure Shows In 2025, operating cash flow was $9.802 billion while capital spending hit $12.737 billion. That left a gap of about $2.94 billion before Southern paid $3.015 billion in common dividends. Financing brought in $4.696 billion to close the shortfall.
That borrowing comes at a price. First-quarter interest expense rose to $778 million from $714 million. Average shares outstanding increased from 1,100 million to 1,124 million. Southern raised another $700 million through its at-the-market stock program, projects $1.1 billion of remaining equity needs through 2030, and is aiming for about 17% FFO to debt by 2029, a measure of operating cash flow against debt.
How Duke and NextEra Compare Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) faces the same squeeze. It runs a $103 billion five-year capital plan, and higher interest expense cut its second-quarter EPS by $0.04. Duke aiming 5% to 7% annual EPS growth through 2030.
NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) offers faster dividend growth, about 10% per year through 2026 and then 6% per year through 2028. But its 2025 capital spending of $24.606 billion was close to double its $12.485 billion in operating cash flow, and it is still working through the Dominion Energy (NYSE:D) merger. Southern’s slower raises leave more room in its budget.
Verdict: Yes, Southern’s Dividend Is Built to Last A payout ratio in the mid-60s, locked-in rates through 2029, protected data-center contracts and a long record of annual raises point to a durable dividend. The tradeoff is slow growth, as heavy spending keeps future increases near the recent 2.7% pace. For retirees who want to live off the checks without selling shares, that steady-raise profile is the whole case for building a dividend ladder (we walked through exactly how to construct one in a free guide here). Income investors should watch interest costs, new share sales, and any spending added through the Alabama and Georgia requests for new generation, which aren’t currently included in the capital forecast.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
SH26-45 intersects approximately 22 metres (core length) of mineralization, 80 metres south of SH26-27, with assays pending, as Metalsource advances toward significantly larger stepouts to test the broader scale of the Silver Hill system. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 22, 2026) - Metalsource Mining Inc. (CSE: MSM) (OTCQB: MSMMF) (FSE: E9Z) ("Metalsource" or the "Company") is pleased to announce additional mineralization identified in drill hole SH26-45, representing a significant southern step out as the Company continues to expand exploration at its Silver Hill Project in North Carolina.
Key Takeaways GE Vernova outlines four pathways for Spain to achieve net-zero electricity by 2050.Spain's wind and solar capacity could reach 150-250 GW by 2050, requiring grid and storage investments.Renewable-heavy scenarios may still need 15-20% firm capacity to ensure reliable electricity supplies.
GE Vernova (GEV - Free Report) is highlighting how Spain can transition toward a net-zero electricity system by 2050 without compromising power reliability or affordability. The company outlined four potential pathways for Spain’s electricity system, emphasizing the importance of balancing renewable energy expansion with grid modernization, energy storage and dependable power generation.
Spain generated nearly 57% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2025, with renewables expected to account for more than 80% by 2030. However, electricity demand is projected to increase approximately 60% by 2050. This combination of rising demand and greater reliance on variable renewable generation could require substantial investment in electricity infrastructure, flexible generation and technologies that maintain grid stability.
Grid Modernization Creates Long-Term Growth OpportunitiesAs renewable energy becomes a larger part of the electricity mix, utilities need stronger transmission networks, energy storage and flexible generation to manage fluctuations in supply and demand. GE Vernova’s businesses in power generation and electrification position it to compete for projects involving grid equipment, system stability and reliable electricity supply.
The company’s analysis also emphasizes that even renewable-heavy power systems need firm, dispatchable capacity when wind and solar generation is insufficient. This supports the broader need for a balanced electricity system, where renewable sources work alongside dependable generation and technologies that improve flexibility. Any commercial benefit for GE Vernova will depend on actual investment decisions and future contract awards.
Balancing Renewable Energy With Dependable PowerGE Vernova’s analysis evaluates four potential pathways for Spain: Business-as-Usual, Progressive, Pioneering and Lower-Carbon. Across these scenarios, wind and solar capacity could reach approximately 150-250 gigawatts (GW) by 2050. The different pathways reflect potential trade-offs involving infrastructure investment, system flexibility, affordability and emission reduction.
Even in scenarios with substantial renewable generation, the electricity system would require firm, dispatchable capacity to support supply when renewable output is low. The analysis indicates that 15–20% of total system capacity could need to remain firm and dispatchable in the most renewable-heavy pathways. Energy storage, nuclear power, hydrogen and carbon capture are among the options identified to support grid reliability and flexibility. These findings highlight the importance of a balanced energy mix rather than relying solely on renewable generation.
For GE Vernova, this trend is relevant to its power generation and electrification businesses. As utilities seek to ensure reliable electricity supplies while lowering emissions, they may increase investment in technologies that enhance grid performance and enable more flexible power generation.
Utilities Investing in Grid Reliability and Clean EnergyAlong with GEV, other utility companies are also poised to benefit from the similar trends, as discussed below:
NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) combines regulated electricity operations through Florida Power & Light with renewable energy generation and storage development through NextEra Energy Resources. Its investments in renewables and storage align with the broader need to integrate clean energy while maintaining reliable electricity supplies.
NextEra Energy Resources continues to expand its clean energy platform through contracted renewable, storage and transmission projects. NEER added 3.6 GW of new renewables and storage origination in the second quarter of 2026, including 2 GW of battery storage.
Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) operates regulated electric utilities and is investing in grid infrastructure and generation resources to meet changing customer demand. Its strategy of expanding electricity infrastructure while maintaining reliability aligns with the challenges highlighted in GE Vernova’s analysis.
Duke Energy continues to position its 2026-2030 investment plan of about $103 billion as the core driver of regulated rate base growth. In second-quarter 2026, management said the company is deploying more than $1 billion of capital per month as it expands generation and grid infrastructure across its regulated jurisdictions.
Southern Company (SO - Free Report) operates regulated utilities and follows a diversified energy strategy that includes natural gas, nuclear power, renewables and energy storage. It is also investing in grid modernization, automation and transmission and distribution infrastructure to strengthen system reliability.
SO has approval for 10 GW of new generation capacity, including natural gas, battery storage and solar, alongside transmission expansion. Ongoing projects and additional solicitations in Alabama and Georgia could create opportunities for regulated investment beyond its current capital plan.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2026) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (OTCQX: SSVFF) is advancing its flagship Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project in Durango, Mexico, which management describes as one of the larger, higher-grade silver-based projects globally. Following additional drilling across multiple zones of mineralization, the company is working toward an updated mineral resource estimate and PEA, while continuing to evaluate opportunities to expand the project's resource base.
AEP just raised its dividend for the fifteenth straight year, but the cash flow math tells a different story than the press release. Here is what the capital spending numbers and a $53 billion debt load reveal about how long…
American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP | AEP Price Prediction) raised its dividend again today. AEP said the quarterly payout will rise from $0.95 to $0.97 per share, and StreetInsider put the increase at 2.1%. The dividend is payable December 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on November 10, 2026. Shares rose 2.2% today to $127.47.
Smaller Raises Hide a Deliberate Strategy At the new rate, the annual dividend comes to $3.88. That equals a yield of about 3.0%. The raises are getting smaller. The 2024 increase was 5.7%, the 2025 increase was 2.2%, and StreetInsider puts it at 2.1%.
Earnings are expected to grow faster than that. Management raised 2026 operating EPS guidance to $6.25-$6.55 and kept its 7%-9% annual growth target through 2030. At the midpoint of that guidance, the payout ratio is about 61%. AEP is letting earnings outgrow the dividend.
CEO Bill Fehrman sounded confident even after a weak quarter:
“I am highly confident in our robust business performance so much so that we are raising 2026 full-year guidance to $6.25 to $6.55 per share.”
That quarter’s EPS of $1.36 missed the $1.48 consensus estimate.
Borrowed and Raised Money Covers the Gap Cash flow is where the dividend story gets harder. In the first two quarters of 2026, operating cash flow was $1.52 billion and $1.82 billion. Capital spending was $2.84 billion and $2.79 billion. That leaves a $2.29 billion shortfall before paying dividends of about $520 million per quarter. Outside capital filled the hole. Total debt reached $53.5 billion, while cash sat at just $375 million. A $2.6 billion equity offering increased the share count by about 5.8% from year-end.
The spending won’t slow down soon. AEP’s five-year capital plan is now $78 billion, and the company expects its rate base to reach $128 billion by 2030. Utilities aren’t the only winners of that buildout; we rounded up seven suppliers behind the data center boom, from power to cooling, in a free report here.
Contracted Data Center Load Supports the Case Much of that growth is already under contract. Contracted load through 2030 reached 69 GW, up from 28 GW in Q3 2025. Commercial load rose 14.9% in the Vertically Integrated segment. Fehrman described how AEP structures these deals:
“We have led efforts to implement large load tariffs and structure contracts to ensure growth helps pay for growth.”
Those contracts matter because data center demand can go away. A Colorado legislative staff report warned that developers “can submit proposals with multiple utilities at the same time,” which can lead utilities to overestimate how much they need to build.
Where Southern and Duke Leave AEP Southern Company (NYSE:SO) paid $0.74 a quarter in Q2 2025 and has a 78-year dividend streak. Its commercial kilowatt-hour sales rose 7.3% in Q2 2026, compared with 14.9% commercial load growth in AEP’s Vertically Integrated segment. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) plans to spend $103 billion and targets 5% to 7% EPS growth through 2030. Duke CEO Harry Sideris put it this way:
“With the largest regulated capital plan in the industry, a balance sheet prepared for growth, and contracted demand from AI and advanced manufacturing, we are well-positioned to deliver 5% to 7% EPS growth through 2030.”
AEP’s growth target tops Duke’s. It is also paying for that growth by issuing shares.
Verdict: Built to Last, at a Slower Pace Yes, AEP’s dividend growth looks durable. The quarterly dividend has gone up every year since at least 2011, and it hasn’t been cut since 2003. Raises of about 2% are a small cost against management’s 7%-9% annual earnings growth target, and that gap would bring the payout ratio down over time if the target holds. Income investors should expect modest increases, smaller than the 5.7% step of 2024. Regulatory decisions, including disallowances in Texas and an order in West Virginia, add risk. In the third-quarter report, keep an eye on contracted gigawatts, any new equity issuance, and whether EPS lands within guidance.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
ATLANTA, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company today announced a regular quarterly dividend of 76 cents per share on the company's common stock, payable December 7, 2026, to shareholders of record as of November 16, 2026. Every quarter for 79 consecutive years, Southern Company has paid a dividend to its shareholders that is equal to or greater than the previous quarter.
In the latest close session, Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) was down 2.09% at $89.27. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.41%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.07%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 1.11%.
The power company's stock has climbed by 6.62% in the past month, exceeding the Utilities sector's gain of 1.69% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.46%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Southern Co. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on November 5, 2026. On that day, Southern Co. is projected to report earnings of $1.7 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 6.25%. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $8.45 billion, indicating a 8.04% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $4.59 per share and revenue of $31.02 billion, indicating changes of +6.74% and +4.95%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Southern Co. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 0.08% rise in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Southern Co. currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at valuation, Southern Co. is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 19.85. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 17.28, which means Southern Co. is trading at a premium to the group.
Also, we should mention that SO has a PEG ratio of 2.4. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. SO's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.56 as of yesterday's close.
The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 91, positioning it in the top 37% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Over the past month, shares of this power company have returned +2.8%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.4% change. During this period, the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, which Southern Co. falls in, has gained 1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
Southern Co. is expected to post earnings of $1.70 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +6.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -14.4%.
The consensus earnings estimate of $4.59 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +6.7%. This estimate has changed +0.1% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.92 indicates a change of +7% from what Southern Co. is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Southern Co. is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
For Southern Co., the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $8.42 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +7.7%. For the current and next fiscal years, $31.02 billion and $32.91 billion estimates indicate +5% and +6.1% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistorySouthern Co. reported revenues of $6.98 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +0.1%. EPS of $1.13 for the same period compares with $0.91 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.36 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -5.18%. The EPS surprise was +11.88%.
Over the last four quarters, Southern Co. surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Southern Co. is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Southern Co.. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Like groceries, gasoline, housing, and pretty much everything else, the cost of power has soared since 2021. The average U.S. household's utility bill now stands at $147 per month, according to Electricrates.org, and that's just for electricity. Adding other utilities like water and gas raises this average up to $470 per month. People are being forced to get creative just to keep their lights turned on.
What if, however, you were able to use the very same companies benefiting from these rising electricity rates to help cover your monthly power costs? Well, given that most utility companies' stocks are particularly good dividend payers, it's not an outrageous idea. Here's a closer idea of what sort of stake it would take.
Image source: Getty Images.
Crunching the numbers
Every utility stock's dividend yield is slightly different. Using the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU -0.17%) as a proxy for the sector as a whole, the typical utility stock is currently yielding about 3.1%. That's in line with Southern Company's (SO -0.22%) dividend yield, as well as that of the industry's biggest name, NextEra Energy (NEE +0.75%).
So, if you wanted an investment in the average utility stock to generate $1,764 ($147 x 12 months) in spendable cash flow to cover your annual electricity bills, you'd need to invest nearly $60,000 in one of these three options. Assuming you're opting for the VPU ETF, that would be about 335 shares, each of which is paying $5.20 in annual dividends right now (335 x $5.20 = $1,742). Adjust accordingly for NEE or SO, or potential changes to these stocks' dividend payments in the meantime.
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF$180.05-$0.30 (-0.17%)
NYSEMKT · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/15/26
Never say never
This would be a relatively unconventional use of dividend-paying investments, of course. But if you've exhausted all other options, difficult circumstances require out-of-the-box thinking. The one thing you certainly don't want to do here is tack on more debt just to pay your bills if you've got a way of avoiding it, especially with interest rates as high as they are now.
James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Programs, rebates and practical tips can help customers manage energy use and costs heading into cooler months
, /PRNewswire/ -- As Georgians prepare their homes for cooler temperatures, Georgia Power is ready to help customers save money and energy, or provide assistance for customers who need it. The company offers a range of assistance programs, payment options and energy-saving resources designed to meet customers where they are and help them better manage their monthly bills.
October is Energy Efficiency Month, an opportunity to highlight the simple steps customers can take to reduce energy use, as well as the programs and resources Georgia Power provides throughout the year to help make homes more comfortable and energy efficient. From income-qualified assistance and free home energy improvements to rebates, personalized recommendations and online energy-management tools, customers have several options for saving energy and money.
Georgia Power understands that energy costs are an important part of every family's budget, and the company works every day to identify savings for customers and keep electricity affordable in Georgia. Earlier this summer, the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month began seeing approximately $50 in annual savings as a result of lower fuel costs. The company has also committed to stable, predictable rates through at least 2028 following a base rate freeze announced in 2025. Additional savings are expected beginning in 2029, when the typical residential customer is expected to save approximately $15 per month, or about $180 annually, due to the company's strategic approach to managing growth, which is lowering costs for residential and small business customers.
Quick energy efficiency tips for cooler months:
Check Insulation and Seal Leaks: Proper insulation in attics and walls keeps warm air in and cold air out. Weatherstripping doors and windows is a simple way to prevent drafts and reduce energy waste.
Think Thermostat: Keeping your thermostat at or near 68 degrees helps balance comfort and cost. Avoid turning the unit off completely, which can lead to higher energy use when reheating. Install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the home's temperature settings when you are away from the house and save up to $100 a year in energy costs, plus up to $150 in Georgia Power rebates.
Let the Sun Shine In: Open blinds and shades during the day to naturally warm your home. Close them at night to reduce heat loss through windows.
Energy-efficiency resources available to customers:
Free in-home energy audit: An energy adviser completes a visual walk-through and provides personalized recommendations to help the customer identify potential energy-saving improvements.
Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP): Customers may be eligible for rebates covering 50% of qualifying improvement costs, up to $1,850 for single-family homes and $1,250 for multifamily units. Eligible improvements include insulation, duct sealing, HVAC maintenance and smart thermostats.
My Power Usage: The My Power Usage tool empowers most customers to track and manage their energy consumption with hourly, daily and monthly monitoring. Customers can view trends, download usage history and receive customized notifications to stay informed. Threshold Alerts help customers stay within their energy budget by notifying them when they exceed their target usage, with both monthly and daily notifications available.
Assistance programs for customers who need additional support:
Income-Qualified Discount: Georgia Power customers receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), participating in Housing Choice Voucher programs (formerly known as HUD or Section 8), or income-eligible seniors with a combined household income of 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or less, may qualify for an Income-Qualified Discount of $33.50 per month. Learn more at GeorgiaPower.com/EnergyDiscount.
Energy Assistance for Savings & Efficiency (EASE): Income-qualified customers may be eligible for free home energy improvements completed by qualified contractors, helping make homes more comfortable and energy efficient. Available upgrades may include HVAC servicing, improved insulation, smart thermostats and more. Learn more at GeorgiaPower.com/EASE.
For more information on how to prepare your home for colder weather and take advantage of Georgia Power's energy efficiency programs, visit GeorgiaPower.com/Efficiency.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.8 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
Vancouver, British Columbia and Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 15, 2026) - Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) (FSE: MV3) ("SXGC", "SX2" or the "Company") notes yesterday's announcement that a re-elected Carroll Labor Government would commit A$20 million towards Australia's first antimony processing facility in northern Victoria (Labor Will Bring Critical Minerals Processing Home, 14 October 2026).
Separately, the Company is pleased to confirm it has been named a preferred recipient under the Victorian Government's Advancing Antimony Grants program. The Victorian Government announced yesterday that SXGC and Ballarat-based Gekko Systems will share more than A$750,000 through the program, to fund studies into antimony processing options and supply chains (New Grants to Back Antimony Processing in Victoria, 14 October 2026).
Four High-Level Takeaways
A$20 million election commitment towards Australia's first antimony processing facility in northern Victoria, to be open to Australian producers and designed to produce up to 5,000 tonnes of antimony metal a year.
Labor's announcement states the facility is expected to support around 200 construction jobs and 60 ongoing skilled jobs.
SXGC and Gekko Systems have been named preferred recipients of the Advancing Antimony Grants program, sharing more than A$750,000 in funding for studies into local antimony processing and supply chains.
Labor's announcement identifies Sunday Creek as a key Victorian antimony discovery, alongside existing production at Costerfield.
Michael Hudson, President and CEO, states: "Sunday Creek is a high-grade gold discovery with a meaningful antimony component, which contributes approximately 15% to 17% of the project's in situ recoverable value. The Carroll Labor Government's election commitment is a practical step towards processing that antimony into metal here in Victoria. Sovereign infrastructure requires political will to actually build, and we thank Premier Carroll and Minister Symes for their support of domestic processing. The Advancing Antimony grant funds the test work needed to assess turning potential future Sunday Creek concentrates into antimony metal for Australian and allied supply chains. We look forward to continuing to work with the State Government including Resources Victoria and the Commonwealth Government in their support of this crucial development in Australia's onshore supply chain."
The Company notes that the A$20 million commitment is an election commitment of the Victorian Labor Party, conditional on its re-election at the Victorian State election on 28 November 2026, and on the terms of any future funding arrangements. The Company will continue to engage with government on the development of antimony processing in Victoria.
Bringing antimony processing onshore
Antimony concentrate produced in Victoria is currently shipped overseas for processing. Antimony is listed as a critical mineral by Australia, the United States, Canada, the European Union and Japan, and is used in defence applications, solar panel glass, batteries, flame retardants and electric steel for drones and electric vehicles.
The Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project contains antimony mineralisation associated with high-grade gold. The Company is studying the production of antimony metal in Victoria through an antimony metallisation facility, which would take concentrate from Sunday Creek and other Australian producers.
The Advancing Antimony grant will contribute to pilot-scale metallisation test work on Sunday Creek concentrate. This includes confirming antimony and gold recoveries, testing antimony metal product quality, and characterising process residues for environmental permitting. It also funds updated flowsheet and balance-of-plant engineering for the proposed facility.
Announcing the grants, Minister for Energy and Resources Jaclyn Symes said: "We're backing Southern Cross Gold and Gekko Systems to build the case for local antimony processing and bring new investment to regional Victoria."
About Sunday Creek
The Sunday Creek epizonal-style gold project is located 60 km north of Melbourne (Figure 1) within 16,900 hectares ("Ha") of granted exploration tenements. SXGC is also the freehold landholder of 2,296 Ha that form the key portion of land in and around the main drilled area at the Sunday Creek Project. The Company applied for its first mining licence, MIN009040, in September 2026.
Further Information
Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project is available through the interactive Vrify 3D animations, presentations and videos available on the SXGC website. Interviews with President and CEO Michael Hudson can be viewed at www.southerncrossgold.com.
Critical Metal Epizonal Gold-Antimony Deposits
Sunday Creek (Figure 1) is an epizonal gold-antimony deposit formed in the late Devonian (like Fosterville, Costerfield and Redcastle), 60 million years later than mesozonal gold systems formed in Victoria (for example Ballarat and Bendigo). Epizonal deposits are a form of orogenic gold deposit classified according to their depth of formation: epizonal (<6 km), mesozonal (6 km to 12 km) and hypozonal (>12 km).
Epizonal deposits in Victoria often have associated high levels of the critical metal, antimony, and Sunday Creek is no exception. China claims a 56 per cent share of global mined supplies of antimony, according to a 2023 European Union study. Antimony features highly on the critical minerals lists of many countries including Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Japan and the European Union. Australia ranks seventh for antimony production despite all production coming from a single mine at Costerfield in Victoria, located near SXGC's projects. Antimony alloys with lead and tin, resulting in improved properties for solders, munitions, bearings and batteries. Antimony is a prominent additive for halogen-containing flame retardants. Adequate supplies of antimony are critical to the world's energy transition, and to the high-tech industry, especially the semiconductor and defence sectors where it is a critical additive to primers in munitions.
Antimony represents approximately 15% to 17% of the in situ recoverable value of Sunday Creek, based on the AuEq ratio of 2.39 set out below.
Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) is defining a leading gold-antimony project at the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project, located 60 km north of Melbourne. Sunday Creek is a significant gold and antimony drill discovery in a Tier 1 location, with high-grade drill results including 106 composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au from 146.4 km of drilling (including historic drilling). The mineralization follows a "Golden Ladder" structure over 12 km of interpreted strike length, with structures drill tested from surface to 1,200 m depth.
Sunday Creek's strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile. The Company has a critical mineral that the Western world needs. This has gained increased significance following China's export restrictions on antimony, a critical metal for defence and semiconductor applications. Southern Cross Gold's inclusion in the US Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and Australia's AUKUS-related legislative changes position it as a potential key Western antimony supplier.
Technical fundamentals further strengthen the investment case, with preliminary metallurgical work showing non-refractory mineralization suitable for conventional processing and gold recoveries of 93% to 98% through gravity and flotation.
With a strong cash position, 2,296 Ha of strategic freehold land ownership, and a large 200 km drill program planned through Q1 2027, SXGC is well-positioned to advance this globally significant gold-antimony discovery in a Tier 1 jurisdiction, delivering milestone by milestone.
- Ends -
For ASX Compliance: This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared, reviewed, verified and approved by, or prepared under the supervision of, Mr Kenneth Bush, Head of Exploration of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. Mr Bush is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a Registered Professional Geologist in the fields of Mining and Exploration (#10315). He is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). He has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the "JORC Code"). Mr Bush holds shares (less than 1%) in the Company. Mr Bush consents to the inclusion in this news release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
Gold Equivalent Calculation
SXGC considers that both gold and antimony included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered and sold at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped for processing during WW1 to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Alkane Resources Limited (previously Mandalay Resources Ltd.), contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Resources Q3 2021 Results). In 2020 it was the sixth highest-grade underground mine globally and a top 5 global producer of antimony.
SXGC considers it appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd (now Alkane Resources Limited) used in its 2024 End of Year Mineral Reserves and Resources Press Release, dated 20 February 2025. That formula was calculated using Costerfield's 2024 production costs, a gold price of US$2,500 per ounce, an antimony price of US$19,000 per tonne, and 2024 total year metal recoveries of 91% for gold and 92% for antimony. It is as follows:
AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 × Sb (%)
Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralisation at Costerfield, SXGC considers that AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 × Sb (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralisation at Sunday Creek.
Previously Reported Information
Information in this news release that relates to prior exploration results is extracted from the Independent Geologist's Report dated 11 December 2024, included in the Company's prospectus dated 11 December 2024, and from the Company's previous ASX announcements, all available at www.asx.com.au under code "SX2". The Company confirms that, as at the date of this news release, it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in those original announcements. The Company also confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, social uncertainties; the state of capital markets, unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in the Company's documents filed with Canadian or Australian (under code SX2) securities regulatory authorities. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia (under code SX2), as applicable, and available for the Company in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca or in Australia at www.asx.com.au (under code SX2). Documents are also available at www.southerncrossgold.com Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding the Victorian Labor Party's election commitment, the Advancing Antimony grant and associated test work, and the potential development of an antimony metallisation facility in Victoria. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include the outcome of the Victorian State election, the terms and timing of any government funding, the results of test work and studies, and the availability of financing and offtake arrangements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
Figure 1: Location of the Southern Cross Gold's Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project, along with its 100% owned Redcastle Gold-Antimony Project
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11541/319107_85cb1f6f04d54bcb_002full.jpg
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/319107
Source: Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
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During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a high dividend payout.
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
This power company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 10.49%.
For the last reported quarter, Southern Co. came out with earnings of $1.13 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.01 per share, representing a surprise of 11.88%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.21 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.32 per share, delivering a surprise of 9.09%.
Price and EPS Surprise
For Southern Co., estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Southern Co. has an Earnings ESP of +1.90% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on November 5, 2026.
With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Four companies kept raising their dividends even as the pandemic hammered their sectors in 2020, and they are still raising today. The question is whether their yields and valuations make them worth buying right now.
Plenty of stocks pay a high yield. Far fewer have kept raising their payouts through a pandemic. All four names on this month’s list did that in 2020: Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM | PM Price Prediction) lifted its quarterly dividend to $1.20 from $1.17, Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) went to $0.45 from $0.41, Southern Company (NYSE:SO) moved to $0.62 from $0.60, and Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) raised to $1.10 from $1.00. They come from four sectors that rarely move together (tobacco, regulated power, big pharma and life insurance), and each one covers its payout with real earnings and cash flow.
Philip Morris International
Yield: PM just raised its quarterly dividend to $1.60 from $1.47, which works out to an annualized $6.40. At a share price of $202.44, the forward yield is about 3.16%.
Dividend safety: Management guides to about $13.5 billion of operating cash flow in 2026 and $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion of capex. Even at the high end of capex, that leaves roughly $11.9 billion of free cash flow against an annual dividend bill of about $9.98 billion at the new rate. The new dividend equals about 77% of the low end of 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $8.26 to $8.41. The company also plans no share repurchases this year, so the dividend gets first call on cash. PM’s dividend history shows a raise every year since 2008, when the quarterly payment was $0.46.
Bull case: The shift to smoke-free products is paying off. Smoke-free products made up about 42% of Q2 2026 net revenues, International Smoke-Free revenue grew 14.2%, VEEV shipments rose 55.1%, and ZYN received FDA modified-risk authorization on 20 variants. Meanwhile, 10.0% international thermal pricing keeps the cash coming in. Q2 operating cash flow rose 61.0% to $5.49 billion.
Risk: The balance sheet is stretched. Stockholders’ equity is negative at -$6.66 billion, and net debt stands at $43.1 billion, or 2.35x adjusted EBITDA. Valuation is also tighter after a 29.49% year-to-date rally that left shares near their 52-week high of $205.99, at about 21x forward earnings.
Southern Company
Yield: Southern pays $0.76 per quarter, or $3.04 annualized. At $87.91, that is a forward yield of about 3.46%.
Dividend safety: The annualized dividend equals about 73% of trailing EPS of $4.15, which is a normal level for a regulated utility whose returns are approved by state commissions. Q2 adjusted EPS of $1.13 beat the $1.00 consensus, and net income at the traditional electric operating companies rose to $1.27 billion from $1.05 billion. Southern’s dividend record goes back to 1999 and shows an increase every year since at least 2016. The quarterly payment rose from $0.5425 then to $0.76 now.
Bull case: Data centers are bringing new load to the Southeast. Commercial kilowatt-hour sales rose 7.3%, wholesale sales climbed 9.2%, and the customer base grew to 9 million. More demand means a bigger rate base, and a bigger rate base is what drives regulated earnings higher. Shares are down 7.42% over the past year and trade at about 17x forward earnings, below the average analyst target of $97.08.
Risk: Funding growth gets more expensive as rates stay high. Q1 interest expense rose to $778 million from $714 million. Wind repowering at Southern Power carries about $205 million of accelerated depreciation remaining in 2026 and $120 million in 2027. Residential sales also slipped 1.5% in Q2.
Bristol Myers Squibb
Yield: Bristol pays $0.63 per quarter, or $2.52 annualized. At $57.90, that is a forward yield of about 4.35%, the second-highest on this list.
Dividend safety: Coverage is the strongest of the four. The dividend equals about 37% of the low end of the newly raised 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance of $6.75 to $7.00, which was lifted from $6.05 to $6.35. Bristol ended June with $8.72 billion in cash and about $5 billion left on its buyback authorization. Its dividend history shows an increase every year since 2010, taking the quarterly payment from $0.32 to $0.63.
Bull case: Newer drugs are now outgrowing the losses from older ones. The Growth Portfolio rose 15% to $7.6 billion in Q2, led by Eliquis at $4.48 billion, Camzyos up 60% and Breyanzi up 41%. Q2 adjusted EPS of $2.04 beat the $1.60 consensus by 27.74%. At about 9x forward earnings, the stock is priced as if that growth will fade.
Risk: On October 12, the late-stage ALOFT-IPF trial of admilparant in a scarring lung disease came back mixed. The lower dose met its goal, but the higher dose fell short of statistical significance, and shares fell roughly 3%. The stock is down 8.08% over the past month. Older brands are also losing sales fast to generics, with Revlimid down 49%, and Eliquis faces its own patent expiration later this decade. The next update comes with Q3 results on October 29, 2026.
Prudential Financial
Yield: Prudential’s regular quarterly dividend is $1.40, or $5.60 annualized. At $112.82, the forward yield is about 4.96%, the highest of the group.
Dividend safety: The dividend equals about 51% of trailing EPS of $11.04. After-tax adjusted operating income rose to $1.44 billion from $1.28 billion, and operating ROE improved to 16.4%. Prudential returned $743 million to shareholders in Q2. Its main insurance subsidiaries carry AA- financial strength ratings from S&P and Fitch. The regular dividend has gone up every year in the record since 2013, from $0.40 to $1.40.
Bull case: The asset manager and the retirement business are both growing. PGIM’s pre-tax adjusted operating income rose 28% to $294 million, and retail annuity sales reached $3.6 billion after a new index-linked annuity launched. Q2 adjusted EPS of $4.08 beat the $3.52 consensus. Wall Street is conservative, with 14 Hold ratings and no Buys, which is why the stock trades at about 10x forward earnings.
Risk: Japan is the problem. Prudential of Japan’s voluntary sales suspension cut international sales 33% on a constant-dollar basis in Q2. The company also booked $76 million of pre-tax credit-related losses. Shares are down 5.38% over the past month.
Four Payers Built to Keep Raising
These four companies make money in different ways: tobacco pricing power, state-approved utility returns, a pharma pipeline that is growing again and a fee-based asset manager. All four raised their dividends in 2020, and all four cover today’s payouts with room to spare. Bristol and Prudential offer the higher yields at single-digit earnings multiples, while Philip Morris and Southern offer steadier dividend growth backed by cash flow and rate-base expansion. As a group, they give investors a reliable and growing stream of income.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
I maintain a Buy rating on Southern Company (SO) but lower my target price by 7% to $97 due to higher near-term capital expenditures. SO faces strong long-term demand from data centers, but connection delays and high CapEx will pressure free cash flow and limit near-term upside. Management guides for 8-9% adjusted EPS growth through 2028, supported by regulated asset base expansion and $81 billion in planned CapEx.
A labour dispute over the future of Italy's troubled former Ilva steelworks is threatening fuel supplies across parts of southern Italy after protesters disrupted operations at ENI's refinery in the city of Taranto.
Trade unions representing former Ilva workers on Tuesday announced a further 48 hours of strike action, protesting against a government plan that they say leaves thousands of employees facing prolonged reliance on furlough schemes rather than a long-term industrial solution.
The unrest widened beyond the steel plant in Taranto when protesters blockaded access to Eni's nearby refinery, a fuel hub serving the southern regions of Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria.
Eni (ENI.MI) said late on Tuesday that more than 50 of its roughly 300 service stations supplied by the refinery had run out of fuel, while its Enilive unit had declared fuel shortages at the airports of Bari and Brindisi.
The energy group warned that prolonged disruption to supplies of technical gases and other materials needed to run the plant could force a controlled shutdown of refinery units.
Initial aviation notices warning of low Jet A1 fuel stocks were later upgraded to say fuel was unavailable at Bari and Brindisi, except for limited supplies reserved for emergency, rescue, hospital and state flights, with restrictions set to remain in place until October 16.
Airport authorities said on Wednesday that flights were operating normally, adding that the situation was being monitored closely.
The fuel concerns come as the government seeks to contain the fallout from the Ilva crisis. At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday it extended special furlough measures for former Ilva workers and contractors until June 2027 and introduced hiring incentives for companies taking on ex-Ilva employees.
The cabinet also approved measures aimed at keeping the steel plant's blast furnace area in a state of readiness while awaiting an October 20 ruling by Italy's Supreme Court on whether key facilities must be shut down.
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ademi LLP is investigating potential data privacy claims arising from a data breach involving lease to own company Southern Company (NYSE: SO), which operates as public utility through Georgia Power, Alabama Power and Mississippi Power. We are investigating whether Southern Company maintained reasonable safeguards to protect personal information.
Please contact us for more information.
What Happened
Southern Company is reporting that its internal records have been compromised. The information compromised may include:
customer’s namemailing addressphone numberemailSocial Security Number financial account number and/or payment card information You May Be Impacted
Your personal information may have been accessed or acquired illegally and you may face an increased risk of identity theft, financial fraud and other misuse.
Your Options
You may may be entitled to seek compensation for this data breach. Ademi LLP will evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost to you.
Protecting Yourself
You should consider taking steps to protect your personal information, including:
Reviewing bank, credit card, and other financial accounts for suspicious activity;Monitoring credit reports for accounts or inquiries they do not recognize;Preserving any letters or emails regarding the data breach;Enrolling in any complimentary credit or identity monitoring services offered in connection with the breach; andConsidering placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit files. Contact Us for a Free Evaluation
If you received a notice concerning the Southern Company data breach and would like to learn more about the investigation, please contact:
Guri Ademi
Ademi LLP
3620 E. Layton Avenue,
Cudahy, WI 53110
Phone: 414-482-8000
Email: [email protected]
About Ademi LLP
We specialize in consumer and investor class actions. We investigate data breaches and cybersecurity incidents nationwide.
This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
In the latest close session, Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) was up +1.23% at $88.11. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.02%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.35%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 0.15%.
The stock of power company has risen by 0.05% in the past month, leading the Utilities sector's loss of 2% and undershooting the S&P 500's gain of 2.05%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Southern Co. in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on November 5, 2026. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $1.65, marking a 3.13% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $8.34 billion, indicating a 6.56% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $4.59 per share and revenue of $31.04 billion. These totals would mark changes of +6.74% and +5.02%, respectively, from last year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Southern Co. should also be noted by investors. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. Southern Co. is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.
From a valuation perspective, Southern Co. is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 18.96. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 17.35, which means Southern Co. is trading at a premium to the group.
Meanwhile, SO's PEG ratio is currently 2.32. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. Utility - Electric Power stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 2.52 based on yesterday's closing prices.
The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 101, positioning it in the top 42% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Don't forget to use Zacks.com to keep track of all these stock-moving metrics, and others, in the upcoming trading sessions.
In the latest trading session, Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) closed at $87.04, marking a +1.01% move from the previous day. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.06%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.38%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.44%.
Coming into today, shares of the power company had lost 1.15% in the past month. In that same time, the Utilities sector lost 3.5%, while the S&P 500 gained 2.36%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Southern Co. in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on November 5, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.65, signifying a 3.13% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $8.34 billion, indicating a 6.56% upward movement from the same quarter last year.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $4.59 per share and a revenue of $31.04 billion, signifying shifts of +6.74% and +5.02%, respectively, from the last year.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Southern Co. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.
Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. Southern Co. currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at valuation, Southern Co. is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 18.77. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 17.18 for its industry.
Meanwhile, SO's PEG ratio is currently 2.29. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The average PEG ratio for the Utility - Electric Power industry stood at 2.5 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 94, which puts it in the top 39% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Shares in Borders & Southern Petroleum (AIM:BOR), the oil and gas explorer focused on assets offshore the Falkland Islands, rose 17% on Monday after it raised £2 million from a single investor at a substantial premium to its previous closing price.
The placing involves the issue of 17.4 million new ordinary shares at 11.5p each, representing a premium of about 42% to Friday’s closing price of 8.1p.
Borders & Southern will also issue 8.7 million warrants, which give the investor the right to buy additional shares at 20p each over the next 18 months.
The company plans to use the proceeds to cover licence and discovery-area fees, technical and commercial studies, administrative expenses and further work on the Darwin project.
The fundraising is expected to fund the company until mid-2028, strengthening its financial position as it pursues a farm-out agreement, under which another company would take on part of the project's costs in exchange for an interest.
Chief executive Harry Baker said the investor had offered the funding at a premium to both the company's recent average share price and Friday’s close, despite the geopolitical backdrop.
The company described the investor as a wealthy Middle Eastern individual with experience of deploying strategic capital across several industries, including oil and gas.
The new shares are expected to be admitted to trading on AIM on or around 19 October, taking the company's issued share capital to about 911.2 million shares.
Borders & Southern holds a 100% interest in three production licences in the South Falkland Basin, covering nearly 10,000 square kilometres.
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The utilities sector just went through one of its roughest stretches in years, and for a sector built on stability, the sell-off may have caught many income investors off guard. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund NYSEARCA: XLU tumbled to a 52-week low near $39, leaving the group more beaten down than it has been in almost three years. But something has shifted over the past several sessions. XLU has bounced nearly 5% off that low, trading back above $41, and the price action is starting to look like a bottom is forming.
Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) Price Chart for Sunday, October, 11, 2026
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Why Rising Bond Yields Hurt UtilitiesTo understand the bounce and potential bottom, you first have to understand the sell-off. And ultimately, it comes down to one thing: bonds and yields. Utilities are classic safe-haven, income-generating investments. People own them for their steady, reliable dividends. But when Treasury yields climb, as they have for much of this year, those government bonds start to look far more attractive by comparison. Why own a utility yielding 3% with business and equity risk attached when you can lock in a 20- or 30-year Treasury at a competitive rate with the full backing of the U.S. government?
That dynamic has pulled income-focused capital out of utilities and into bonds, hitting the sector hard. Many utilities also carry substantial debt to fund infrastructure, so rising rates squeeze their borrowing costs, too.
The Key Level to WatchThat recent low near $39 is now the sector's all-important line in the sand. It marks the level the bulls must defend, and so far, it has held firm, with XLU bouncing sharply off it.
For the downtrend to fully break and momentum to shift, though, more work is needed. Next, XLU needs to firm up above its 20-day moving average, confirm a higher low, and break the downward structure that has defined the chart for months. Notably, this bottom attempt is happening even though the bond and yield situation has not fully resolved, and no definitive bottom has been established there yet. That suggests utilities may be trying to get ahead of a yield turn. If bonds do find their footing in the weeks ahead, utilities could have significant room to recover. And two of the sector's largest names are worth watching closely for clues and momentum shifts.
NextEra Energy: The Higher-Upside PlayNextEra Energy Today
NEE
NextEra Energy
$77.34 -0.03 (-0.04%)
As of 10/9/2026 03:59 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$74.41▼
$98.753.22%
17.38
$98.95
NextEra Energy NYSE: NEE, the single largest holding in XLU at nearly 13% of the fund, is the more aggressive of the two names here. The stock is down about 4% year-to-date and more than 20% below its 52-week high.
That underperformance is also what gives it the most room to bounce. NextEra pays a 3.2% dividend and has a strong analyst profile, with a Moderate Buy consensus across 23 analysts and an average price target of $99.67, implying close to 28% upside. For investors who believe the rate backdrop is turning, NextEra may offer the higher-beta, higher-reward way to play a utilities recovery. As the largest utility company in the country and the top holding in the XLU fund, NEE's follow-through, or lack thereof, on the bounce will strongly influence the broader sector's attempts.
Southern Company: The Steady Income AnchorSouthern Today
SO
Southern
$86.13 -0.02 (-0.03%)
As of 10/9/2026 03:59 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$81.69▼
$100.833.53%
20.65
$100.08
Southern Company NYSE: SO, XLU's second-largest holding at nearly 8%, offers a more conservative profile than NEE. The Atlanta-based utility recently touched its 52-week low near $82 before stabilizing around $85, and it offers a couple of things NextEra does not: a higher dividend yield of 3.5% and a notably lower beta of just 0.31, making it one of the sector's steadier names.
The trade-off is a more muted upside. Analysts rate Southern a Hold, with an average price target of $100.08, implying about 16% upside, meaningful but less than NextEra's. What Southern lacks in upside potential compared with NEE, it makes up for in reliability, with one of the sector's strongest dividend profiles. Similar to the broader sector, SO has bounced nearly 5% off its recent 52-week low. If the stock can base above its 20-day simple moving average, it could be the first signal that upward momentum is building. Such a move could also hint at a shift in momentum in the broader utilities sector.
2 Ways to Play the TurnThe setup in utilities is one of the more compelling mean-reversion stories in the market right now. A deeply oversold defensive sector is showing the first real signs of bottoming, holding a key level near $39 on XLU even before bonds have confirmed their own turn. NextEra offers a higher-octane recovery play with 30% implied upside, while Southern provides a steadier, higher-yielding anchor.
Whether an investor tracks the sector through the broad XLU or its two largest holdings, one thing is clear: utilities are at an interesting inflection point. From here, two things matter overwhelmingly: whether the key $39 level holds in the sector, and whether yields finally cooperate and turn lower.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund Right Now?Before you consider Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund wasn't on the list.
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Southern Company's experienced storm response teams, advanced storm intelligence technologies drive power restoration following Hurricane IsaiasPR Newswire
ATLANTA, Oct. 10, 2026
, /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company teams are restoring power across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi following Hurricane Isaias, leveraging the scale of the company's system and experienced teams while utilizing advanced storm intelligence technologies, including AI, to help return service to customers safely and as quickly as possible.
The company's electric utilities - Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power - together have already restored power to approximately 420,000 customers as of 6 p.m. ET today. Crews continue working to restore power for approximately 80,000 remaining customer outages in the hardest-hit communities - primarily in Alabama where Hurricane Isaias crossed through the state.
"Our customers are counting on us long before a storm arrives and long after it passes," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. "By combining advanced storm intelligence technologies with the experience of our storm response teams and the scale of our electric and natural gas companies, we're able to position resources ahead of severe weather, respond quickly as conditions change and restore service safely for our customers."
Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power have worked together to move crews, equipment and resources where they are needed most. The companies' response has been strengthened by more than 6,400 outside personnel including additional lineworkers, support roles and specialized equipment secured through the electric industry's long-standing mutual assistance network. Combined with Southern Company's own resources, utility crews and contractors from 25 states are supporting a coordinated restoration effort across the company's Southeast service territory. The coordination also extends to the company's natural gas subsidiaries with Southern Company Gas, Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas working closely with Georgia Power to support restoration as needed and emergency response.
Before Hurricane Isaias made landfall, Southern Company teams used advanced storm technologies to forecast potential impacts, identify areas at greatest risk and strategically position crews, equipment and materials across the Southeast. By combining predictive analytics, real-time operational data and decades of storm response experience, teams were able to anticipate changing conditions, make faster decisions and begin restoration efforts as soon as it was safe to do so.
Womack added that preparedness is a year-round commitment at Southern Company. Every day, Southern Company invests in its grid, infrastructure, technologies, processes and people to strengthen reliability and better serve customers. From advanced forecasting tools and resource planning to workforce training and infrastructure improvements, these ongoing efforts help the company prepare for extreme weather and restore service safely and efficiently when customers need it most.
About the Mutual Assistance Network
Southern Company's electric companies are part of the electric industry's mutual assistance network, a nationwide partnership among hundreds of utilities that support one another following major storms and other emergencies. The network enables utilities to quickly secure additional crews, equipment and resources from across the country, helping strengthen restoration efforts and return service to customers as safely and efficiently as possible. The network consists of hundreds of utilities nationwide.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success, driven by nearly 30,000 employees dedicated to delivering exceptional service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-companys-experienced-storm-response-teams-advanced-storm-intelligence-technologies-drive-power-restoration-following-hurricane-isaias-302905101.html
, /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company teams are restoring power across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi following Hurricane Isaias, leveraging the scale of the company's system and experienced teams while utilizing advanced storm intelligence technologies, including AI, to help return service to customers safely and as quickly as possible.
The company's electric utilities - Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power - together have already restored power to approximately 420,000 customers as of 6 p.m. ET today. Crews continue working to restore power for approximately 80,000 remaining customer outages in the hardest-hit communities - primarily in Alabama where Hurricane Isaias crossed through the state.
"Our customers are counting on us long before a storm arrives and long after it passes," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. "By combining advanced storm intelligence technologies with the experience of our storm response teams and the scale of our electric and natural gas companies, we're able to position resources ahead of severe weather, respond quickly as conditions change and restore service safely for our customers."
Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power have worked together to move crews, equipment and resources where they are needed most. The companies' response has been strengthened by more than 6,400 outside personnel including additional lineworkers, support roles and specialized equipment secured through the electric industry's long-standing mutual assistance network. Combined with Southern Company's own resources, utility crews and contractors from 25 states are supporting a coordinated restoration effort across the company's Southeast service territory. The coordination also extends to the company's natural gas subsidiaries with Southern Company Gas, Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas working closely with Georgia Power to support restoration as needed and emergency response.
Before Hurricane Isaias made landfall, Southern Company teams used advanced storm technologies to forecast potential impacts, identify areas at greatest risk and strategically position crews, equipment and materials across the Southeast. By combining predictive analytics, real-time operational data and decades of storm response experience, teams were able to anticipate changing conditions, make faster decisions and begin restoration efforts as soon as it was safe to do so.
Womack added that preparedness is a year-round commitment at Southern Company. Every day, Southern Company invests in its grid, infrastructure, technologies, processes and people to strengthen reliability and better serve customers. From advanced forecasting tools and resource planning to workforce training and infrastructure improvements, these ongoing efforts help the company prepare for extreme weather and restore service safely and efficiently when customers need it most.
About the Mutual Assistance Network
Southern Company's electric companies are part of the electric industry's mutual assistance network, a nationwide partnership among hundreds of utilities that support one another following major storms and other emergencies. The network enables utilities to quickly secure additional crews, equipment and resources from across the country, helping strengthen restoration efforts and return service to customers as safely and efficiently as possible. The network consists of hundreds of utilities nationwide.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success, driven by nearly 30,000 employees dedicated to delivering exceptional service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
Georgia Power monitoring, prepared to respond to Hurricane Isaias impactsPR Newswire
ATLANTA, Oct. 9, 2026
Customers encouraged to prepare for potential weekend impacts
, /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power is monitoring the development of Hurricane Isaias and preparing personnel and resources to respond to potential power outages over the weekend. Hurricane Isaias is currently expected to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and the possibility of tornadoes to portions of Georgia Power's service territory. Georgia Power teams have been preparing over the last week to respond to any damage and power outages caused by the storm.
Georgia Power reminds customers to stay safe and take time to prepare now – before the system enters the state. In addition to following local media reports and weather sources like the National Weather Service, resources available at GeorgiaPower.com/Storm can help customers prepare and stay informed.
Safety Tips – Before, During and After a Storm
Before a Storm: Stay aware, heed advice from officials, and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit and family plan. Unplug major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power.During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity – appliances, metal objects and water.After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line.Tools You Can Use to Stay Connected & Up To Date
Outage Alerts – Customers subscribed to our free Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized notifications and updates via text message. Check that your contact number is up to date to receive the latest information.Outage & Storm Center – Available at GeorgiaPower.com/Storm, customers can visit this site to check their contact information is updated to receive Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power's interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times.Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go.@GeorgiaPower on X (Twitter) – Follow @GeorgiaPower on X for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.Georgia Power is prepared to respond to outages safely and as quickly as weather conditions allow.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-power-monitoring-prepared-to-respond-to-hurricane-isaias-impacts-302903582.html
Customers encouraged to prepare for potential weekend impacts
, /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power is monitoring the development of Hurricane Isaias and preparing personnel and resources to respond to potential power outages over the weekend. Hurricane Isaias is currently expected to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and the possibility of tornadoes to portions of Georgia Power's service territory. Georgia Power teams have been preparing over the last week to respond to any damage and power outages caused by the storm.
Georgia Power reminds customers to stay safe and take time to prepare now – before the system enters the state. In addition to following local media reports and weather sources like the National Weather Service, resources available at GeorgiaPower.com/Storm can help customers prepare and stay informed.
Safety Tips – Before, During and After a Storm
Before a Storm: Stay aware, heed advice from officials, and check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. Check your emergency kit and family plan. Unplug major appliances and charge cell phones in case you lose power. During a Storm: Take safe shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows and doors. Avoid contact with conductors of electricity – appliances, metal objects and water. After a Storm: Never touch any downed or low-hanging wire, including telephone or TV wires that touch a power line. Never pull tree limbs off of power lines yourself or enter areas with debris or downed trees as downed power lines may be buried in wreckage. Customers should call 911 or Georgia Power immediately if they see a fallen or low-hanging power line. Tools You Can Use to Stay Connected & Up To Date
Outage Alerts – Customers subscribed to our free Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized notifications and updates via text message. Check that your contact number is up to date to receive the latest information. Outage & Storm Center – Available at GeorgiaPower.com/Storm, customers can visit this site to check their contact information is updated to receive Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938. Outage Map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power's interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times. Georgia Power Mobile App – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go. @GeorgiaPower on X (Twitter) – Follow @GeorgiaPower on X for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more. Georgia Power is prepared to respond to outages safely and as quickly as weather conditions allow.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), X (X.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
Highlights PFS met testwork results near complete and showing consistency with historical results thus supporting PFS metallurgical assumptions and by-product recovery potential. Major flowsheet improvements achieved through 1) elimination of heap leach component, with all production via milling & flotation; 2) significant low grade material rejection through coarse particle flotation ("CPF") and 3) application of Jameson cells.
Vancouver, British Columbia and Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2026) - Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) (FSE: MV3) ("SXGC", "SX2" or the "Company") announces that the Company will hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders (the "AGM") on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 11:00 am Melbourne time at The Auction Room, Level 4, InterContinental Melbourne (The Rialto), 495 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
The Company also announces that Mr. David Henstridge, a non-executive director and founder of the Company, has advised the Company that he will not stand for re-election as a director at the AGM. The Company thanks Mr. Henstridge for his years of dedicated service, valuable insights, and leadership on the Board and its committees, and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.
All other current members of the Board intend to stand for re-election at the AGM. In addition, Mr. Paul Townsend will stand for election to the Board for the first time at the AGM.
Mr. Townsend is a highly accomplished corporate finance executive with a proven track record of optimizing capital structures, driving margin expansion, and maximizing shareholder value across complex global markets. Mr. Townsend brings 10 years of ASX-listed experience, having directed the financial strategies of prominent organizations including Nufarm, Asaleo Care, Pacific Hydro, and Monash University. He specializes in institutionalizing rigorous fiscal discipline, navigating complex equity and debt capital markets, audit and risk management, and managing robust corporate governance structures. Mr. Townsend holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
The Company's 2026 management proxy materials containing information about all director nominees and other items of business to be considered at the AGM will be available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca, the ASX at www.asx.com.au and on the Company's website at www.southerncrossgold.com As always, we encourage our shareholders to vote their shares prior to the AGM.
Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF), is defining a leading gold-antimony project at the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project, located 60 km north of Melbourne. Sunday Creek is a significant gold and antimony drill discovery in a Tier 1 location, with high-grade drill results including 98 composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au from 142.5 km of drilling (including historic drilling). The mineralization follows a "Golden Ladder" structure over 12 km of interpreted strike length, with structures drill tested from surface to 1,200 m depth.
Sunday Creek's strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile. The Company has a critical mineral that the Western world needs. This has gained increased significance following China's export restrictions on antimony, a critical metal for defence and semiconductor applications. Southern Cross' inclusion in the US Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and Australia's AUKUS-related legislative changes position it as a potential key Western antimony supplier.
Technical fundamentals further strengthen the investment case, with preliminary metallurgical work showing non-refractory mineralization suitable for conventional processing and gold recoveries of 93% to 98% through gravity and flotation.
With a strong cash position, 2,296 ha of strategic freehold land ownership, and a large 200 km drill program planned through Q1 2027, SXGC is well-positioned to advance this globally significant gold-antimony discovery in a tier-one jurisdiction, delivering milestone by milestone.
- Ends -
For ASX Compliance: This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, social uncertainties; the state of capital markets, unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in the Company's documents filed with Canadian or Australian (under code SX2) securities regulatory authorities. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia (under code SX2), as applicable, and available for the Company in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca or in Australia at www.asx.com.au (under code SX2). Documents are also available at www.southerncrossgold.com. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/318014
Source: Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
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Benton brings more than 30 years of wireless experience and deep knowledge of Alabama's emergency communications community to the board. ATLANTA, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Linc, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), announced that Alabama public sector account manager Leslie Benton was named to the Alabama 9-1-1 Board.
Vancouver, British Columbia and Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2026) - Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF) (FSE: MV3) ("SXGC", "SX2" or the "Company") announces results from five infill drill holes at the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project in Victoria. Closer spaced drilling at the Golden Dyke Prospect is lifting grades, tightening the high-grade cores and adding vein sets 50 m to the west (Figures 1 to 7).
Four High Level Takeaways:
Infill drilling at Golden Dyke delivers high-grade composites, not just high-grade samples.
SDDSC225: 2.7 m @ 178.6 g/t AuEq (178.4 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 662.3 m, the 13th best composite intersection at Sunday Creek to date, on the GD40 vein set with no drilling beneath it
SDDSC218: 6.8 m @ 50.1 g/t AuEq (49.8 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 537.9 m, the broadest high-grade composite in this release, 380 m below surface
SDDSC221: 1.0 m @ 198.9 g/t AuEq (198.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 680.0 m, built from adjacent assays of 334.0 g/t Au and 447.0 g/t Au
Closer spaced drilling is lifting grades and sharpening the high-grade cores, not diluting them.
Eight composite intersections in this release exceed 100 g/t Au and twelve individual assays exceed 100 g/t Au, spread across four of the five holes. The composites carry the high individual grades rather than depending on them: the 6.8 m @ 50.1 g/t AuEq in SDDSC218 includes 1,290.0 g/t Au over 0.22 m, the highest individual assay in the release, and the 1.0 m @ 198.9 g/t AuEq in SDDSC221 is made up of adjacent assays of 334.0 g/t Au and 447.0 g/t Au.
Golden Dyke keeps growing westward towards Christina, even at infill spacing.
SDDSC218 and SDDSC221 cut four vein sets not previously recognized within the current Exploration Target, pushing Golden Dyke 30 m to 50 m west towards Christina. SDDSC218 alone cut 22 vein sets. The infill holes tie directly to SDDSC171, SDDSC177, SDDSC188 and SDDSC210 on the GD80 vein set at 10 m to 30 m spacings: the continuity the geological model predicts is now drilled.
Antimony stays high alongside the gold.
SDDSC218 returned three individual assays exceeding 20% Sb in the upper part of the hole, peaking at 53.5% Sb with 20.8 g/t Au over 0.35 m from 496.30 m, within 2.2 m @ 49.0 g/t AuEq (27.7 g/t Au, 8.9% Sb) from 495.9 m. SDDSC229 returned 0.2 m @ 56.5 g/t AuEq (25.4 g/t Au, 13.0% Sb) from 495.1 m within a broader 13.2 m @ 7.9 g/t AuEq zone. The system is zoned, with antimony richest in the upper part of the tested block and gold dominant at depth.
Michael Hudson, President & CEO, states: "Infill is where a lot of high-grade systems get found out. Golden Dyke is doing the opposite. Tighter spacing has lifted grades, tightened the high-grade cores and added vein sets we had not counted, including four outside the current Exploration Target that push the prospect 50 m further west towards Christina.
"SDDSC225 returned 2.7 m @ 178.4 g/t gold, our 13th best composite at Sunday Creek, on a vein set with nothing drilled beneath it. SDDSC218 cut 22 vein sets and delivered 6.8 m @ 49.8 g/t gold, and SDDSC229 tied the vein sets together at 10 m to 30 m spacing. Eight composites over 100 g/t gold in a single infill release shows what this system does when you drill it closer. These five holes tested a continuous block roughly 300 m by 500 m, from 280 m to 750 m below surface, with antimony rich at the top and gold dominant at depth."
"Twelve rigs are turning, 72 holes are in the lab and the 200,000 m program runs through to Q1 2027. The infill is confirming the model while the step-outs keep growing it."
For Those Who Like the Details - Highlights:
SDDSC225 infilled the main Golden Dyke area, cut five vein sets and returned the best composite in this release, 2.7 m @ 178.6 g/t AuEq (178.4 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 662.3 m, the 13th best composite intersection at Sunday Creek to date and the deepest hit on the GD40 vein set, with no drilling beneath it. Four individual assays exceeded 100 g/t Au, peaking at 512.0 g/t Au with 0.30% Sb over 0.85 m. Highlights include:
2.7 m @ 178.6 g/t AuEq (178.4 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 662.3 m (No drilling beneath this intercept)
3.9 m @ 32.9 g/t AuEq (32.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 793.8 m, including:
0.4 m @ 106.0 g/t AuEq (106.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 793.8 m
0.3 m @ 335.0 g/t AuEq (335.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 795.8 m
SDDSC218 infilled the central Golden Dyke Prospect and intersected 22 vein sets, one of them new to the Exploration Target. It returned the broadest high-grade composite in this release, 6.8 m @ 50.1 g/t AuEq (49.8 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 537.9 m, about 380 m below surface, which carries the highest individual assay in the release at 1,290.0 g/t Au with 0.67% Sb over 0.22 m. The hole also returned three individual assays above 20% Sb, peaking at 53.50% Sb with 20.8 g/t Au over 0.35 m. Highlights include:
13.0 m @ 6.8 g/t AuEq (4.0 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 477.8 m, including:
3.2 m @ 12.5 g/t AuEq (5.2 g/t Au, 3.0% Sb) from 485.3 m
0.1 m @ 159.9 g/t AuEq (124.0 g/t Au, 15.0% Sb) from 489.9 m
2.2 m @ 49.0 g/t AuEq (27.7 g/t Au, 8.9% Sb) from 495.9 m, including:
1.5 m @ 72.7 g/t AuEq (40.9 g/t Au, 13.3% Sb) from 495.9 m
6.8 m @ 50.1 g/t AuEq (49.8 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 537.9 m, including:
0.7 m @ 64.7 g/t AuEq (64.2 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 539.0 m
0.2 m @ 1,291.6 g/t AuEq (1,290.0 g/t Au, 0.7% Sb) from 541.2 m
9.7 m @ 9.5 g/t AuEq (8.1 g/t Au, 0.6% Sb) from 646.1 m, including:
0.3 m @ 220.0 g/t AuEq (219.0 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 654.0 m
0.6 m @ 37.8 g/t AuEq (25.8 g/t Au, 5.0% Sb) from 735.2 m
SDDSC221 infilled the main Golden Dyke area and pushed its western side, cutting eight vein sets, three of them new to the Exploration Target and extending Golden Dyke west towards Christina. It confirmed the GD80 vein set 13 m along strike of SDDSC210 and 18 m along strike of SDDSC171, and returned 1.0 m @ 198.9 g/t AuEq from adjacent assays of 334.0 g/t Au and 447.0 g/t Au. Highlights include:
5.1 m @ 2.6 g/t AuEq (1.6 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 457.0 m
2.4 m @ 8.2 g/t AuEq (3.0 g/t Au, 2.2% Sb) from 610.4 m, including:
1.8 m @ 10.4 g/t AuEq (3.8 g/t Au, 2.7% Sb) from 610.4 m
1.0 m @ 198.9 g/t AuEq (198.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 680.0 m
SDDSC229, a shallower infill hole from the SDDSC218 collar, cut eight vein sets and returned two broad zones, 13.2 m @ 7.9 g/t AuEq and 8.6 m @ 8.2 g/t AuEq. It ties the Golden Dyke vein sets together at infill spacing: 10 m along strike of SDDSC177, 30 m up-dip of SDDSC188 and 32 m down-dip of SDDSC218 (this release). Two individual assays exceeded 100 g/t Au, peaking at 261.0 g/t Au with 0.68% Sb over 0.12 m. Highlights include:
13.2 m @ 7.9 g/t AuEq (6.8 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 489.0 m, including:
2.2 m @ 15.9 g/t AuEq (14.2 g/t Au, 0.7% Sb) from 491.7 m
0.2 m @ 56.5 g/t AuEq (25.4 g/t Au, 13.0% Sb) from 495.1 m
0.1 m @ 262.6 g/t AuEq (261.0 g/t Au, 0.7% Sb) from 498.7 m
8.6 m @ 8.2 g/t AuEq (5.2 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 523.1 m, including:
1.4 m @ 16.7 g/t AuEq (10.4 g/t Au, 2.6% Sb) from 523.1 m
1.3 m @ 25.1 g/t AuEq (17.3 g/t Au, 3.3% Sb) from 526.7 m
Project Totals to Date
288 drill holes for 140.8 km reported from Sunday Creek since late 2020
106 composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au by applying a 1 m (down hole length) @ 5 g/t AuEq lower cut
115 composite intersections exceeding 10% Sb by applying a 1 m (down hole length) @ 5 g/t AuEq lower cut
Results pending from 72 holes, including eleven holes actively being drilled and three abandoned holes, with eleven drill rigs currently operational
200,000 m drill program continuing through to Q1 2027
Drill Hole Discussion
This release reports five infill holes within the Golden Dyke prospect at Sunday Creek, all drilled east to west to cut the steeply dipping vein sets at high angles (Figures 1 and 3). These holes tested a continuous block roughly 300 m by 500 m, from 280 m to 750 m below surface.
Closer spacing has done two things. It has lifted grades and sharpened the high-grade cores within known vein sets, and it has found vein sets the model had not yet counted. SDDSC218 and SDDSC221 intersected four vein sets outside the current Exploration Target, extending Golden Dyke 30 m to 50 m west towards Christina (Figure 3). Visible gold was logged 36 times across SDDSC218, SDDSC221, SDDSC225 and SDDSC229. Twelve individual assays exceeded 100 g/t Au and three exceeded 20% Sb across the five holes (Tables 2 and 3).
Infill drilling has reduced hole spacing within the block from approximately 50 m to approximately 30 m along strike by 15 m to 20 m laterally (Figures 4 and 5). The system is zoned: antimony is richest in the upper part of the block, where grades above 1% Sb persist across a broad central zone and the highest values exceed 5% Sb, while gold is dominant at depth. Silver of up to approximately 30 g/t Ag accompanies the higher grade gold results within sulphosalts that become more prominent with depth.
SDDSC218
SDDSC218 was drilled as an infill hole through the central Golden Dyke Prospect and intersected 22 vein sets, including one not previously recognized within the current Exploration Target (refer to release dated 4 August 2026). The hole returned the broadest high-grade composite of this release, 6.8 m @ 50.1 g/t AuEq (49.8 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 537.9 m, approximately 380 m below surface, which includes the highest individual gold assay in this release of:
1,290.0 g/t Au & 0.67% Sb over 0.22 m from 541.18 mAdditional individual assays >100 g/t Au include:
124.0 g/t Au & 15.00% Sb over 0.12 m from 489.92 m
186.0 g/t Au & 0.33% Sb over 0.21 m from 538.96 m
219.0 g/t Au & 0.42% Sb over 0.33 m from 653.97 m
Antimony grades are also strong in the upper part of the hole, where three individual assays exceeding 20% Sb were returned between 472 m and 497 m down hole, including:
25.60% Sb & 7.3 g/t Au over 0.10 m from 472.25 m
23.80% Sb & 32.6 g/t Au over 0.20 m from 487.00 m
53.50% Sb & 20.8 g/t Au over 0.35 m from 496.30 m
Selected composite highlights include:
3.4 m @ 7.6 g/t AuEq (5.6 g/t Au, 0.8% Sb) from 389.9 m, including:
0.8 m @ 24.6 g/t AuEq (24.5 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 392.6 m
13.0 m @ 6.8 g/t AuEq (4.0 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 477.8 m, including:
3.2 m @ 12.5 g/t AuEq (5.2 g/t Au, 3.0% Sb) from 485.3 m
0.1 m @ 159.9 g/t AuEq (124.0 g/t Au, 15.0% Sb) from 489.9 m
2.2 m @ 49.0 g/t AuEq (27.7 g/t Au, 8.9% Sb) from 495.9 m, including:
1.5 m @ 72.7 g/t AuEq (40.9 g/t Au, 13.3% Sb) from 495.9 m
6.0 m @ 3.0 g/t AuEq (1.5 g/t Au, 0.6% Sb) from 503.3 m
6.8 m @ 50.1 g/t AuEq (49.8 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 537.9 m, including:
0.7 m @ 64.7 g/t AuEq (64.2 g/t Au, 0.2% Sb) from 539.0 m
0.2 m @ 1,291.6 g/t AuEq (1,290.0 g/t Au, 0.7% Sb) from 541.2 m
9.7 m @ 9.5 g/t AuEq (8.1 g/t Au, 0.6% Sb) from 646.1 m, including:
0.3 m @ 220.0 g/t AuEq (219.0 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 654.0 m
0.6 m @ 37.8 g/t AuEq (25.8 g/t Au, 5.0% Sb) from 735.2 m
SDDSC221
SDDSC221 infilled the main Golden Dyke area and pushed its western side. The hole cut eight vein sets, three of them not previously recognized within the current Exploration Target, extending Golden Dyke west towards Christina.
SDDSC221 also confirms the continuity of the GD80 vein set (Figure 4), intersecting it 13 m along strike of SDDSC210, which returned 7.4 m @ 1.8 g/t AuEq (0.8 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 486.8 m (refer to release dated 22 April 2026), and 18 m along strike of SDDSC171, which returned 2.8 m @ 13.7 g/t AuEq (9.8 g/t Au, 1.6% Sb) from 457.1 m (refer to release dated 26 August 2025).
SDDSC221 intersected two (2) individual assays exceeding 100 g/t Au:
334.0 g/t Au & 0.01% Sb over 0.11 m from 680.49 m
447.0 g/t Au & 0.01% Sb over 0.36 m from 680.60 m
Selected composite highlights include:
5.1 m @ 2.6 g/t AuEq (1.6 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 457.0 m
6.0 m @ 1.6 g/t AuEq (0.8 g/t Au, 0.3% Sb) from 585.9 m
2.4 m @ 8.2 g/t AuEq (3.0 g/t Au, 2.2% Sb) from 610.4 m, including:
1.8 m @ 10.4 g/t AuEq (3.8 g/t Au, 2.7% Sb) from 610.4 m
2.2 m @ 4.7 g/t AuEq (3.2 g/t Au, 0.6% Sb) from 655.5 m
1.0 m @ 198.9 g/t AuEq (198.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 680.0 m
SDDSC225
SDDSC225 infilled the main Golden Dyke area and cut five vein sets. It returned the best composite in this release, 2.7 m @ 178.6 g/t AuEq (178.4 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 662.3 m, the 13th best composite intersection at Sunday Creek to date. It is the deepest intercept on the GD40 vein set and nothing has yet been drilled beneath it.
SDDSC225 intersected four (4) individual assays exceeding 100 g/t Au:
512.0 g/t Au & 0.30% Sb over 0.85 m from 662.27 m
160.0 g/t Au & 0.02% Sb over 0.21 m from 664.72 m
106.0 g/t Au & 0.01% Sb over 0.36 m from 793.78 m
335.0 g/t Au & 0.01% Sb over 0.25 m from 795.78 m
Selected composite highlights include:
2.7 m @ 178.6 g/t AuEq (178.4 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 662.3 m
3.9 m @ 32.9 g/t AuEq (32.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 793.8 m, including:
0.4 m @ 106.0 g/t AuEq (106.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 793.8 m
0.3 m @ 335.0 g/t AuEq (335.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 795.8 m
SDDSC229
SDDSC229, a shallower infill hole from the SDDSC218 collar, cut eight vein sets and returned two broad mineralized zones, 13.2 m @ 7.9 g/t AuEq (6.8 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 489.0 m and 8.6 m @ 8.2 g/t AuEq (5.2 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 523.1 m.
SDDSC229 demonstrates the continuity of the Golden Dyke vein sets at infill spacing (Figure 4). The hole intersected the GD80 vein set 10 m along strike of SDDSC177, which returned 8.3 m @ 8.1 g/t AuEq (5.8 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 504.5 m (refer to release dated 23 October 2025), ~19 m up-dip of SDDSC188, which returned 9.4 m @ 5.2 g/t AuEq (3.6 g/t Au, 0.7% Sb) from 496.4 m (refer to release dated 6 January 2026) and 32 m down-dip of SDDSC218, which returned 6.0 m @ 3.0 g/t AuEq (1.5 g/t Au, 0.6% Sb) from 503.3 m (this release), with SDDSC229 returning 8.6 m @ 8.2 g/t AuEq (5.2 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 523.1 m.
The GD82 vein set provides a further example of high-grade core continuity, SDDSC229 returned 13.2 m @ 7.9 g/t AuEq (6.8 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 489.0 m, 40 m up-dip of this result SDDSC218 (this release) returned 13.0 m @ 6.8 g/t AuEq (4.0 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb) from 477.8 m, highlighting both broad zones of mineralisation with high-grade cores that had not previously been recognised with the broader spaced drilling.
SDDSC229 intersected two (2) individual assays exceeding 100 g/t Au:
189.0 g/t Au & 0.06% Sb over 0.13 m from 492.54 m
261.0 g/t Au & 0.68% Sb over 0.12 m from 498.65 m
Selected composite highlights include:
2.8 m @ 4.3 g/t AuEq (2.7 g/t Au, 0.6% Sb) from 481.0 m
13.2 m @ 7.9 g/t AuEq (6.8 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 489.0 m, including:
2.2 m @ 15.9 g/t AuEq (14.2 g/t Au, 0.7% Sb) from 491.7 m
0.2 m @ 56.5 g/t AuEq (25.4 g/t Au, 13.0% Sb) from 495.1 m
0.1 m @ 262.6 g/t AuEq (261.0 g/t Au, 0.7% Sb) from 498.7 m
8.6 m @ 8.2 g/t AuEq (5.2 g/t Au, 1.3% Sb) from 523.1 m, including:
1.4 m @ 16.7 g/t AuEq (10.4 g/t Au, 2.6% Sb) from 523.1 m
1.3 m @ 25.1 g/t AuEq (17.3 g/t Au, 3.3% Sb) from 526.7 m
SDDSC236
SDDSC236 was a bounding hole on the southern side of the Golden Dyke prospective terrain and returned no significant intersections. It defines the southern margin of the mineralized system and gives structural control for follow-up targeting.
Pending Results and Update
Twelve drill rigs are operating at Sunday Creek. Results are pending from 72 holes, 49 at Sunday Creek and 24 regional, including eleven holes currently drilling and three abandoned holes (Figure 2). The Company's 200,000 m drill program continues through to Q1 2027.
About Sunday Creek
The Sunday Creek epizonal-style gold project is located 60 km north of Melbourne (Figure 7) within 16,900 hectares ("Ha") of granted exploration tenements. SXGC is also the freehold landholder of 2,296 Ha that forms the key portion in and around the main drilled area at the Sunday Creek Project.
Gold and antimony form in a relay of vein sets that cut across a steeply dipping zone of intensely altered rocks (the "host"). These vein sets are like a "Golden Ladder" structure where the main host extends between the side rails deep into the earth, with multiple cross-cutting vein sets that host the gold forming the rungs. At Apollo, Golden Dyke and Rising Sun these individual 'rungs' have been defined over a 600 m depth extent from surface to over 1,200 m below surface, are 2.5 m to 3.5 m wide (median widths), locally up to 10 m, and 20 m to 100 m in strike.
Cumulatively, 288 drill holes for 140,848.84 m have been reported from Sunday Creek since late 2020. This amount includes six holes for 1,029 m that have been drilled for geotechnical purposes and 23 holes for 3,104.12 m that were abandoned due to deviation or hole conditions. Fourteen drill holes for 2,382.74 m have been reported regionally outside of the main Sunday Creek drill area. A total of 64 historic drill holes for 5,599 m were completed from the late 1960s to 2008. The project now contains a total of one-hundred-and-six (106) composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au and eighty-five (85) composite intersections between 50 g/t and 100 g/t Au, and one-hundred-and-fifteen (115) composite intersections exceeding 10% Sb by applying a 1 m (down hole length) @ 5 g/t AuEq lower cut.
Southern Cross Gold's systematic drill program is strategically targeting these significant vein formations, which are currently drill defined over 1,550 m strike of the host dyke/sediment ("rails of the ladder") from Christina to Apollo prospects, of which approximately 650 m has been more intensively drill tested (Golden Dyke to Apollo). At least 126 'rungs' have been defined to date, defined by high-grade intercepts (20 g/t Au to >7,330 g/t Au) along with lower grade edges. Ongoing step-out drilling is aiming to uncover the potential extent of this mineralized system (Figure 3).
Geologically, the project is located within the Melbourne Structural Zone in the Lachlan Fold Belt. The regional host to the Sunday Creek mineralization is an interbedded turbidite sequence of siltstones and minor sandstones metamorphosed to sub-greenschist facies and folded into a set of open north-west trending folds.
Further Information
Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project is available through the interactive Vrify 3D animations, presentations and videos all available on the SXGC website. These data, along with an interview on these results with President & CEO/Managing Director Michael Hudson can be viewed at www.southerncrossgold.com.
No upper gold grade cut is applied in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness. However, during future Mineral Resource studies, the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed. The Company notes that due to rounding of assay results to one significant figure, minor variations in calculated composite grades may occur.
Figures 1 to 7 show project location, plan and longitudinal views of drill results reported here and Tables 1 to 3 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported individually as estimated true widths ("ETW"), otherwise they are interpreted to be approximately 60% to 85% of the sampled thickness for other reported holes. Lower grades were cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum width of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width.
Critical Metal Epizonal Gold-Antimony Deposits
Sunday Creek (Figure 6) is an epizonal gold-antimony deposit formed in the late Devonian (like Fosterville, Costerfield and Redcastle), 60 million years later than mesozonal gold systems formed in Victoria (for example Ballarat and Bendigo). Epizonal deposits are a form of orogenic gold deposit classified according to their depth of formation: epizonal (<6 km), mesozonal (6 km to 12 km) and hypozonal (>12 km).
Epizonal deposits in Victoria often have associated high levels of the critical metal, antimony, and Sunday Creek is no exception. China claims a 56 per cent share of global mined supplies of antimony, according to a 2023 European Union study. Antimony features highly on the critical minerals lists of many countries including Australia, the United States of America, Canada, Japan and the European Union. Australia ranks seventh for antimony production despite all production coming from a single mine at Costerfield in Victoria, located nearby to all SXGC projects. Antimony alloys with lead and tin which results in improved properties for solders, munitions, bearings and batteries. Antimony is a prominent additive for halogen-containing flame retardants. Adequate supplies of antimony are critical to the world's energy transition, and to the high-tech industry, especially the semiconductor and defence sectors where it is a critical additive to primers in munitions.
Antimony represents approximately 15% to 17% in situ recoverable value of Sunday Creek at an AuEq of 2.39 ratio.
Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd. (TSX: SXGC) (ASX: SX2) (OTCQX: SXGCF), is defining a leading gold-antimony project at the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project, located 60 km north of Melbourne. Sunday Creek is a significant gold and antimony drill discovery in a Tier 1 location, with high-grade drill results including 106 composite intersections exceeding 100 g/t Au from 146.4 km of drilling (including historic drilling). The mineralization follows a "Golden Ladder" structure over 12 km of interpreted strike length, with structures drill tested from surface to 1,200 m depth.
Sunday Creek's strategic value is enhanced by its dual-metal profile. The Company has a critical mineral that the Western world needs. This has gained increased significance following China's export restrictions on antimony, a critical metal for defence and semiconductor applications. Southern Cross' inclusion in the US Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and Australia's AUKUS-related legislative changes position it as a potential key Western antimony supplier.
Technical fundamentals further strengthen the investment case, with preliminary metallurgical work showing non-refractory mineralization suitable for conventional processing and gold recoveries of 93% to 98% through gravity and flotation.
With a strong cash position, 2,296 Ha of strategic freehold land ownership, and a large 200 km drill program planned through Q1 2027, SXGC is well-positioned to advance this globally significant gold-antimony discovery in a tier-one jurisdiction, delivering milestone by milestone.
- Ends -
For ASX Compliance: This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
NI 43-101 Technical Background and Qualified Person
Kenneth Bush, Head of Exploration for SXGC, a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a Registered Professional Geologist in the fields of Mining and Exploration (#10315), is the Qualified Person as defined by the NI 43-101. They have prepared, reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release.
Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-OES analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process.
SXGC considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered and sold at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Alkane Resources (previously Mandalay Resources) contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Resources Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony.
SXGC considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its 2024 End of Year Mineral Reserves and Resources Press Release, dated February 20, 2025. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using Costerfield's 2024 production costs, using a gold price of US$2,500 per ounce, an antimony price of US$19,000 per tonne and 2024 total year metal recoveries of 91% for gold and 92% for antimony, and is as follows:
AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 × Sb (%)
Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, SXGC considers that a AuEq = Au (g/t) + 2.39 × Sb (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek.
JORC Competent Person Statement
Information in this announcement that relates to new exploration results contained in this report is based on information compiled by Mr Kenneth Bush a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists and a Registered Professional Geologist in the fields of Mining and Exploration (#10315). Mr Bush has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activities undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Bush is Head of Exploration of Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Limited and consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.
Certain information in this announcement that relates to prior exploration results is extracted from the Independent Geologist's Report dated 11 December 2024 which was issued with the consent of the Competent Person, Mr Steven Tambanis. The report is included in the Company's prospectus dated 11 December 2024 and is available at www.asx.com.au under code "SX2". The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information related to exploration results included in the original market announcement. The Company confirms that the form and context of the Competent Persons' findings in relation to the report have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.
Certain information in this announcement also relates to prior drill hole exploration results, extracted from the following announcements, which are available to view on www.southerncrossgold.com:
The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original document/announcement and the Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as "proposed", "will", "subject to", "near future", "in the event", "would", "expect", "prepared to" and other similar words or expressions. Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include general business, economic, competitive, political, social uncertainties; the state of capital markets, unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant; and other risks described in the Company's documents filed with Canadian or Australian (under code SX2) securities regulatory authorities. You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada or Australia (under code SX2), as applicable, and available for the Company in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca or in Australia at www.asx.com.au (under code SX2). Documents are also available at www.southerncrossgold.com The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
Figure 1: Sunday Creek plan view showing selected results from holes SDDSC218, SDDSC221, SDDSC225, SDDSC229 and SDDSC236 reported here (dark blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected prior reported drill holes.
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Figure 2: Sunday Creek plan view showing selected drill hole traces from holes SDDSC218, SDDSC221, SDDSC225, SDDSC229 and SDDSC236 reported here (black trace), with prior reported drill holes (grey trace) and currently drilling and assays pending hole traces (dark blue).
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Figure 3: Sunday Creek longitudinal section across A-B in the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the NW (striking 56 degrees) indicating mineralized vein sets. Showing holes SDDSC218, SDDSC221, SDDSC225, SDDSC229 and SDDSC236 reported here (dark blue highlighted box, black trace), with selected intersections and prior reported drill holes. The vertical extents of the vein sets are limited by proximity to drill hole pierce points.
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Figure 4: Sunday Creek longitudinal section C - D of Golden Dyke Vein Set 80.
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Figure 5: Sunday Creek longitudinal section E - F of Golden Dyke Vein Set 82 showing high-grade core continuity
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Figure 6: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas. The main regional drill areas are at Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan located 4,000 m to 7,500 m along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke- Apollo. Map in GDA94/ MGA Zone 55.
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Figure 7: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with the 100% owned Redcastle Gold-Antimony Project
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Table 1: Drill collar summary table for recent drill holes in progress.
This ReleaseHole IDDepth
(m)ProspectEast
GDA94 Z55North
GDA94 Z55Elevation
(m)DipAzimuth
GDA94 Z55SDDSC218796.99Golden Dyke330813.45867847.6301.1-47.9265.0SDDSC221926.54Golden Dyke330754.15867733.0307.0-50.6285.3SDDSC225992.82Golden Dyke330754.55867733.0306.9-52.9284.8SDDSC229541.80Golden Dyke330813.95867847.7301.2-48.4267.2SDDSC236650.10Golden Dyke330813.75867847.3301.1-49.5263.8 Currently being processed and analyzed Hole IDDepth
(m)ProspectEast
GDA94 Z55North
GDA94 Z55Elevation
(m)DipAzimuth
GDA94 Z55SDDSC215476.39Regional331603.65867183.7304.9-38.215.4SDDSC226826.10Rising Sun331276.95867121.1289.1-56.4336.5SDDSC226AIn Progress plan 2200 mRising Sun331278.15867112.6289.2-56.8330.4SDDSC226W1603.90Rising Sun331276.95867121.1289.1-56.4336.5SDDSC237359.00Golden Dyke330700.45867880.1299.7-43.2245.7SDDSC237W1510.47Golden Dyke330700.45867880.1299.7-43.2299.7SDDSC238810.80Christina329778.65867552.7286.5-32.069.2SDDSC239915.63Golden Dyke330753.15867731.5306.9-31.0270.2SDDSC2401171.50Rising Sun330354.15867861.2277.2-58.773.9SDDSC240W1594.00Rising Sun330354.15867861.2277.2-58.773.9SDDSC241418.60Golden Dyke330700.95867879.7299.8-39.1243.5SDDSC242A370.67Golden Dyke330813.45867846.9301.1-45.8267.4SDDSC242AW1601.73Golden Dyke330813.45867846.9301.1-45.8267.4SDDSC2431038.00Apollo331615.85867951.1347.0-59.5269.0SDDSC2441098.00Golden Dyke330973.35867847.7296.7-49.5275.8SDDSC245548.80Regional331533.75867845.3341.2-40.7156.1SDDSC246760.20Golden Dyke330753.75867731.8306.7-39.5274.6SDDSC247193.60Golden Dyke330772.25867889.6295.7-32.3248.5SDDSC248572.50Apollo331291.35867825.7316.4-40.9269.8SDDSC249191.09Golden Dyke330772.75867889.6295.7-36.7245.9SDDSC250199.81Rising Sun330772.45867889.9295.7-36.9252.3SDDSC251120.40Apollo331532.65867847.5340.9-31.9270.4SDDSC251A306.70Apollo331532.85867847.9340.9-31.7273.7SDDSC252200.00Golden Dyke330772.75867889.9295.7-40.0249.9SDDSC253349.40Apollo331595.85867936.9345.6-53.8267.8SDDSC253W11042.70Apollo331595.85867936.9345.6-53.8267.8SDDSC254In Progress plan 890 mChristina329777.25867552.7286.5-52.161.9SDDSC255551.00Golden Dyke330773.05867890.0295.6-41.4251.2SDDSC256445.37Golden Dyke330772.25867889.4295.7-31.0245.3SDDSC257304.74Golden Dyke330813.15867847.3301.1-43.1263.8SDDSC257W1634.50Golden Dyke330813.15867847.3301.1-43.1263.8SDDSC2581036.67Golden Dyke330973.35867847.7296.7-32.5265.0SDDSC259781.66Golden Dyke330754.05867731.7306.7-43.6274.0SDDSC259W11201.20Golden Dyke330754.05867731.7306.7-43.6274.0SDDSC2601028.50Rising Sun330339.65867859.2276.9-69.664.3SDDSC2611021.30Apollo331615.05867950.8346.9-45.5266.3SDDSC262924.20Apollo331596.45867937.0345.4-55.5266.5SDDSC263In Progress plan 1230 mApollo330761.85867730.2307.3-52.966.3SDDSC264230.30Golden Dyke330813.55867847.8301.3-50.8259.6SDDSC264AIn Progress plan 710 mGolden Dyke330813.55867847.8301.3-53.7267.1SDDSC265760.43Apollo331615.55867951.0346.7-55.6270.4SDDSC265W1436.50Apollo331615.05867951.0346.0-61.3264.1SDDSC266In Progress plan 600 mApollo331525.05867844.0339.9-50.9280.6SDDSC267In Progress plan 1450 mRising Sun330353.95867861.1277.1-63.676.4SDDSC269In Progress plan 1400 mRising Sun330339.65867859.2276.9-66.075.1SDDSC270In Progress plan 1100 mApollo331615.55867951.7346.8-51.3267.8SDDSC271In Progress plan 1200 mGolden Dyke330973.35867847.7296.7-55.0275.8 Regional holes currently being processed and analyzedHole IDDepth
(m)ProspectEast
GDA94 Z55North
GDA94 Z55Elevation
(m)DipAzimuth
GDA94 Z55SDDTS009506.00Tonstall336984.35870557.1524.7-28.3285.0SDDTS008511.37Tonstall336992.95870558.4524.0-35.029.0SDDTS010535.79Tonstall336993.75870557.9524.1-37.044.4SDDTS011401.32Tonstall336992.15870557.3524.1-43.018.0SDDCN002259.88Consols336036.05870692.7484.1-37.0241.0SDDLV005A419.10Leviathan334566.15870167.8554.3-31.0206.0SDDLV006752.80Leviathan334569.45870170.0554.4-47.0152.0SDDCN003323.06Consols336041.35870692.1484.4-36.0130.0SDDCN005A229.30Consols336034.95870693.5484.0-30.0256.5SDDCN004271.30Consols336036.55870693.7484.1-49.0258.0SDDLV007395.10Leviathan334570.15870169.2554.4-29.1110.2SDDCN006179.80Consols336038.45870692.3484.3-77.9180.0SDDLV008302.93Leviathan334101.25870007.2544.1-60.099.0SDDTS012590.54Tonstall336992.05870558.0524.0-48.58.2SDDCN007152.40Consols336041.45870693.0484.4-50.0114.8SDDTS015460.00Leviathan337693.05870860.0523.00.00.0SDDTS014200.00Tonstall337693.05870860.0523.0-45.0180.0SDDLV010802.40Leviathan334495.05869985.0553.00.00.0SDDTS013329.04Tonstall337693.05870860.0523.0-38.0248.0SDDLV009335.03Leviathan334089.05870005.0544.0-33.0233.0SDDAM001In Progress plan 700 mAftermath335952.05871577.0436.0-35.066.0SDDLV011In Progress plan 450 mLeviathan334805.05870245.0545.0-69.080.0Abandoned drill holes currently being processed and analyzedHole IDDepth
(m)ProspectEast
GDA94 Z55North
GDA94 Z55Elevation
(m)DipAzimuth
GDA94 Z55SDDCN00534.69Consols336034.95870693.5484.0-30.0256.5SDDLV00532.40Leviathan334566.15870167.8554.3-33.4206.0SDDSC24220.65Golden Dyke330813.65867847.0301.0-45.8267.2Table 2: Table of mineralized drill hole intersections reported from SDDSC218, SDDSC221, SDDSC225, SDDSC229 and SDDSC236 with two cutoff criteria. Lower grades cut at 1.0 g/t AuEq lower cutoff over a maximum of 2 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m. Significant intersections and interval depths are rounded to one decimal place.
Hole numberFrom (m)To (m)Interval (m)Au g/tSb %AuEq g/tSDDSC218389.9393.33.45.60.87.6Including389.9391.01.10.42.56.2Including392.6393.30.824.50.024.6SDDSC218403.0412.19.10.70.11.0SDDSC218433.2437.54.30.80.31.6SDDSC218440.6440.70.119.63.929.0SDDSC218445.4448.12.73.60.64.9Including445.4445.80.516.91.320.0SDDSC218452.8453.50.71.90.42.9SDDSC218460.9461.30.415.10.115.3Including460.9461.20.319.30.019.4SDDSC218463.6467.03.52.50.12.7Including463.6464.50.97.90.08.0SDDSC218469.9472.42.51.21.34.2Including472.3472.40.17.325.668.5SDDSC218477.8490.813.04.01.26.8Including477.8479.01.28.50.59.7Including485.3488.63.25.23.012.5Including489.9490.00.1124.015.0159.9SDDSC218495.9498.12.227.78.949.0Including495.9497.41.540.913.372.7SDDSC218500.5501.10.63.00.74.5SDDSC218503.3509.36.01.50.63.0Including507.3508.31.01.62.26.8SDDSC218526.1526.70.68.30.08.3SDDSC218537.2537.70.617.50.518.7Including537.2537.40.334.61.036.9SDDSC218537.9544.76.849.80.150.1Including539.0539.70.764.20.264.7Including541.2541.40.21,290.00.71,291.6Including543.4544.71.35.80.26.2SDDSC218549.6552.52.90.90.21.4SDDSC218555.2557.42.21.90.12.2SDDSC218574.7576.92.21.60.11.8SDDSC218591.5593.21.71.90.63.3SDDSC218598.3600.21.90.80.21.2SDDSC218620.9621.30.433.00.033.0SDDSC218646.1655.89.78.10.69.5Including646.1647.91.81.41.95.9Including654.0654.30.3219.00.4220.0SDDSC218659.0661.12.13.20.13.5Including660.0661.11.16.00.16.2SDDSC218704.4705.71.34.50.04.6SDDSC218721.4723.72.23.60.24.1Including722.9723.70.79.60.210.0SDDSC218735.2735.80.625.85.037.8SDDSC218743.0745.52.53.90.14.1Including744.3744.90.713.10.013.2SDDSC218763.9767.83.90.60.10.9SDDSC221457.0462.15.11.60.52.6Including460.3460.90.74.22.710.5SDDSC221568.0568.50.56.60.06.6SDDSC221585.9592.06.00.80.31.6SDDSC221610.4612.82.43.02.28.2Including610.4612.21.83.82.710.4SDDSC221617.7619.11.50.80.31.6SDDSC221627.2627.40.213.50.213.9SDDSC221629.8631.92.01.00.11.2SDDSC221655.5657.72.23.20.64.7Including656.9657.70.88.80.19.0SDDSC221660.9661.10.22.93.511.3SDDSC221680.0681.01.0198.90.0198.9SDDSC221703.4704.30.94.50.04.5SDDSC221740.3742.11.82.50.02.5SDDSC221776.0776.60.64.10.24.7SDDSC221784.9785.10.225.90.025.9SDDSC221813.8815.01.22.80.02.9SDDSC221828.8828.90.253.60.053.6SDDSC221841.8842.70.93.00.03.0SDDSC225594.9595.30.424.30.124.5SDDSC225609.0611.62.60.90.52.0SDDSC225662.3664.92.7178.40.1178.6SDDSC225668.0668.50.54.70.04.7SDDSC225686.9689.42.61.10.11.2SDDSC225793.8797.73.932.90.032.9Including793.8794.10.4106.00.0106.0Including795.8796.00.3335.00.0335.0Including797.2797.70.510.70.010.7SDDSC225913.2913.60.47.10.07.1SDDSC22937.138.81.82.30.02.3SDDSC229413.2413.40.21.73.19.2SDDSC229430.3432.82.60.80.52.0SDDSC229473.9475.81.91.70.12.0SDDSC229481.0483.82.82.70.64.3Including483.1483.20.234.36.349.5SDDSC229489.0502.213.26.80.47.9Including489.0489.60.512.20.714.0Including491.7493.92.214.20.715.9Including495.1495.40.225.413.056.5Including498.7498.80.1261.00.7262.6SDDSC229510.9511.60.85.91.910.5SDDSC229523.1531.78.65.21.38.2Including523.1524.51.410.42.616.7Including526.7528.01.317.33.325.1Including530.6531.40.85.50.77.1Table 3: All individual assays reported from SDDSC218, SDDSC221, SDDSC225, SDDSC229 and SDDSC236 reported here >0.1g/t AuEq. Individual assay and sample intervals are reported to two decimal places.
CriteriaJORC Code explanationCommentarySampling techniquesNature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.Aspects of the determination of mineralization that are Material to the Public Report.In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralization types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information.Sampling has been conducted on drill core (half core for >90% and quarter core for check samples), grab samples (field samples of in-situ bedrock and boulders; including duplicate samples), trench samples (rock chips, including duplicates) and soil samples (including duplicate samples).
Locations of field samples were obtained by using a GPS, generally to an accuracy of within 5 metres. Drill hole and trench locations have been confirmed to <1 metre using a differential GPS.
Samples locations have also been verified by plotting locations on the high-resolution Lidar mapsDrill core is marked for cutting and cut using an automated diamond saw used by Company staff in Kilmore.
Samples are bagged at the core saw and transported to the Bendigo On Site Laboratory for assay.
At On Site samples are crushed using a jaw crusher combined with a rotary splitter and a 1 kg split is separated for pulverizing (LM5) and assay.Standard fire assay techniques are used for gold assay on a 25 g charge by experienced staff (used to dealing with high sulfide and stibnite-rich charges). On Site gold method by fire assay code PE01S.Screen fire assay is used to understand gold grain-size distribution where coarse gold is evident.ICP-OES is used to analyze the aqua regia digested pulp for an additional 12 elements (method BM011) and over-range antimony is measured using flame AAS (method known as B050).Soil samples were sieved in the field and an 80-mesh sample bagged and transported to ALS Global laboratories in Brisbane for super-low level gold analysis on a 50 g samples by method ST44 (using aqua regia and ICP-MS).Grab and rock chip samples are generally submitted to On Site Laboratories for standard fire assay and 12 element ICP-OES as described above.Drilling techniquesDrill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.).HQ or NQ diameter diamond drill core, oriented using Axis Champ orientation tool with the orientation line marked on the base of the drill core by the driller/offsider.
A standard 3 metre core barrel has been found to be most effective in both the hard and soft rocks in the project.Drill sample recoveryMethod of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material.Core recoveries were maximised using HQ or NQ diamond drill core with careful control over water pressure to maintain soft-rock integrity and prevent loss of fines from soft drill core. Recoveries are determined on a metre-by-metre basis in the core shed using a tape measure against marked up drill core checking against driller's core blocks.Plots of grade versus recovery and RQD (described below) show no trends relating to loss of drill core, or fines.LoggingWhether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography.The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged.Geotechnical logging of the drill core takes place on racks in the company core shed.
Core orientations marked at the drill rig are checked for consistency, and base of core orientation lines are marked on core where two or more orientations match within 10 degrees.
Core recoveries are measured for each metre
RQD measurements (cumulative quantity of core sticks > 10 cm in a metre) are made on a metre-by-metre basis.Each tray of drill core is photographed (wet and dry) after it is fully marked up for sampling and cutting.The ½ core cutting line is placed approximately 10 degrees above the orientation line so the orientation line is retained in the core tray for future work.Geological logging of drill core includes the following parameters:
Rock types, lithology
Alteration
Structural information (orientations of veins, bedding, fractures using standard alpha-beta measurements from orientation line; or, in the case of un-oriented parts of the core, the alpha angles are measured)
Veining (quartz, carbonate, stibnite)
Key minerals (visible under hand lens, e.g. gold, stibnite)100% of drill core is logged for all components described above into the company MX logging database.Logging is fully quantitative, although the description of lithology and alteration relies on visible observations by trained geologists.Logging is considered to be at an appropriate quantitative standard to use in future studies.Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparationIf core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc. and whether sampled wet or dry.For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.Drill core is typically half-core sampled using an Almonte core saw. The drill core orientation line is retained.Quarter and half core is used when taking sampling duplicates (termed FDUP in the database).Sampling representivity is maximised by always taking the same side of the drill core (whenever oriented),and consistently drawing a cut line on the core where orientation is not possible. The field technician draws these lines.Sample sizes are maximised for coarse gold by using half core, and using quarter core and half core splits (laboratory duplicates) allows an estimation of nugget effect.In mineralized rock the company uses approximately 10% of core duplicates, certified reference materials (suitable OREAS materials), laboratory sample duplicates and instrument repeats.In the soil sampling program duplicates were obtained every 25th sample and the laboratory inserted low-level gold standards regularly into the sample flow.Quality of assay data and laboratory testsThe nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established.The fire assay technique for gold used by On Site is a globally recognised method, and over-range follow-ups including gravimetric finish and screen fire assay are standard. Of significance at the On Site laboratory is the presence of fire assay personnel who are experienced in dealing with high sulfide charges (especially those with high stibnite contents) - this substantially reduces the risk of inaccurate reporting in complex sulfide-gold charges.Where screen fire assay is used, this assay will be reported instead of the original fire assay. The ICP-OES technique is a standard analytical technique for assessing elemental concentrations. The digest used (aqua regia) is excellent for the dissolution of sulfides (in this case generally stibnite, pyrite and trace arsenopyrite), but other silicate-hosted elements, in particular vanadium (V), may only be partially dissolved. These silicate-hosted elements are not important in the determination of the quantity of gold, antimony, arsenic or sulphur.A portable XRF has been used in a qualitative manner on drill core to ensure appropriate core samples have been taken (no pXRF data are reported or included in the MX database).Acceptable levels of accuracy and precision have been established using the following methods
¼ duplicates - half core is split into quarters and given separate sample numbers (commonly in mineralized core) - low to medium gold grades indicate strong correlation, dropping as the gold grade increases over 100 g/t Au.
½ duplicates - core is split into halves and given separate sample numbers (commonly in mineralized core) - low to medium gold grades indicate strong correlation, dropping as the gold grade increases over 100 g/t Au.
Washes - washes are inserted post visible gold or >1% visible stibnite to ensure contamination is minimised during the preparation stage
Blanks - blanks are inserted after visible gold and in strongly mineralized rocks to confirm that the crushing and pulping are not affected by gold smearing onto the crusher and LM5 swing mill surfaces. Results are excellent, generally below detection limit and a single sample at 0.03 g/t Au.
Certified Reference Materials - OREAS CRMs have been used throughout the project including blanks, low (<1 g/t Au), medium (up to 5 g/t Au) and high-grade gold samples (> 5 g/t Au). Results are automatically checked on data import into the MX database to fall within 2 standard deviations of the expected value.
Laboratory splits - On Site conducts splits of both coarse crush and pulp duplicates as quality control and reports all data. In particular, high Au samples have the most repeats.
Laboratory CRMs - On Site regularly inserts their own CRM materials into the process flow and reports all data
Laboratory precision - duplicate measurements of solutions (both Au from fire assay and other elements from the aqua regia digests) are made regularly by the laboratory and reported.Accuracy and precision have been determined carefully by using the sampling and measurement techniques described above during the sampling (accuracy) and laboratory (accuracy and precision) stages of the analysis.Soil sample company duplicates and laboratory certified reference materials all fall within expected ranges.Verification of sampling and assayingThe verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.The use of twinned holes.Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.Discuss any adjustment to assay data.The Independent Geologist has visited Sunday Creek drill sites and inspected drill core held at the Kilmore core shed - 11 December 2024 S.Tambanis.The CP & QP, Mr Kenneth Bush has visually inspected the drill core from holes in this release. The drill intersections match both the geological descriptions in the database and the expected assay data (for example, gold and stibnite visible in drill core is matched by high Au and Sb results in assays).In addition, on receipt of results Company geologists assess the gold, antimony and arsenic results to verify that the intersections returned expected data.The electronic data storage in the MX database is of a high standard. Primary logging data are entered directly by the geologists and field technicians and the assay data are electronically matched against sample number on return from the laboratory.Certified reference materials, ¼ core field duplicates (FDUP), laboratory splits and duplicates and instrument repeats are all recorded in the database.Exports of data include all primary data, from hole SDDSC077B onwards after discussion with SRK Consulting. Prior to this gold was averaged across primary, field and lab duplicates.Adjustments to assay data are recorded by MX, and none are present (or required).Twinned drill holes are not available at this stage of the project.Location of data pointsAccuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.Specification of the grid system used.Quality and adequacy of topographic control.Differential GPS used to locate drill collars, trenches and some workingsStandard GPS for some field locations (grab and soils samples), verified against Lidar data.Downhole surveys are collected by either electronic single-shot, REFLEX EZ-TRAC multi-shot or Imdex/Axis north-seeking gyro or a combination. During drilling, surveys are completed at a maximum of 30 m intervals, with multi-shot surveys completed at hole completion or upon request by geologists at 3m intervals during drilling unless ground conditions are unsuitable.The grid system used throughout is Geocentric datum of Australia 1994; Map Grid Zone 55 (GDA94_Z55), also referred to as ELSG 28355. Reported azimuths also relate to MGA55 (GDA94_Z55).Topographic control is excellent owing to sub 10 cm accuracy from Lidar data.Data spacing and distributionData spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.Whether sample compositing has been applied.The data spacing is suitable for reporting of exploration results - evidence for this is based on the improving predictability of high-grade gold-antimony intersections.At this time, the data spacing and distribution are not sufficient for the reporting of Mineral Resource Estimates. This however may change as knowledge of grade controls increase with future drill programs.Samples have been composited to a 1 g/t AuEq over 2.0 m width for lower grades and 5 g/t AuEq over 1.0 m width for higher grades in table 3. All individual assays above 0.1 g/t AuEq have been reported to two decimal places with no compositing in table 4. Orientation of data in relation to geological structureWhether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralized structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material.The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported are interpreted to be approximately 60-85% of the sampled thickness. Drilling is oriented in an optimum direction when considering the combination of host rock orientation and apparent vein control on gold and antimony grade.
The steep nature of some of the veins may give increases in apparent thickness of some intersections, but more drilling is required to quantify.A sampling bias is not evident from the data collected to date (drill holes cut across mineralized structures at a moderate angle).Sample securityThe measures taken to ensure sample security.Drill core is delivered to the Kilmore core logging shed by either the drill contractor or company field staff. Samples are marked up and cut by company staff at the Kilmore core shed, in an automated diamond saw and bagged before loaded onto strapped secured pallets and trucked by company staff to Bendigo for submission to the laboratory. There is no evidence in any stage of the process, or in the data for any sample security issues.Audits or reviewsThe results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data.Continuous monitoring of CRM results, blanks and duplicates is undertaken by geologists and the company data geologist. Mr Kenneth Bush for SXG has the orientation, logging and assay data.Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results
CriteriaJORC Code explanationCommentaryMineral tenement
and land tenure
statusType, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area.The Sunday Creek Project, previously known as the Clonbinane Project, is covered by the Retention Licence RL 6040 and is surrounded by Exploration Licence EL6163 and Exploration Licence EL7232. All the licences are 100% held by Clonbinane Goldfield Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary company of Southern Cross Gold Ltd.Exploration done by
other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties.The Sunday Creek project is a high level orogenic (or epizonal) Fosterville-style deposit. Small scale mining has been undertaken in the project area since the 1880s continuing through to the early 1900s. Historical production occurred with multiple small shafts and alluvial workings across the Clonbinane Goldfield permits. Production of note occurred at the Clonbinane area with total production being reported as 41,000 oz gold at a grade of 33 g/t gold (Leggo and Holdsworth, 2013)Work in and nearby to the Sunday Creek Project area by previous explorers typically focused on finding bulk, shallow deposits. Beadell Resources were the first to drill deeper targets and Southern Cross have continued their work in the Sunday Creek Project area. EL54 - Eastern Prospectors Pty Ltd
Rock chip sampling around Christina, Apollo and Golden Dyke mines.
Rock chip sampling down the Christina mine shaft. Resistivity survey over the Golden Dyke. Five diamond drill holes around Christina, two of which have assays.ELs 872 & 975 - CRA Exploration Pty Ltd
Exploration focused on finding low grade, high tonnage deposits. The tenements were relinquished after the area was found to be prospective but not economic.
Stream sediment samples around the Golden Dyke and Reedy Creek areas. Results were better around the Golden Dyke. 45 dump samples around Golden Dyke old workings showed good correlation between gold, arsenic and antimony.
Soil samples over the Golden Dyke to define boundaries of dyke and mineralization. Two costeans parallel to the Golden Dyke targeting soil anomalies. Costeans since rehabilitated by SXG.ELs 827 & 1520 - BHP Minerals Ltd
Exploration targeting open cut gold mineralization peripheral to SXG tenements.ELs 1534, 1603 & 3129 - Ausminde Holdings Pty Ltd
Targeting shallow, low grade gold. Trenching around the Golden Dyke prospect and results interpreted along with CRAs costeans. 29 RC/Aircore holes totalling 959 m sunk into the Apollo, Rising Sun and Golden Dyke target areas. ELs 4460 & 4987 - Beadell Resources Ltd
ELs 4460 and 4497 were granted to Beadell Resources in November 2007. Beadell successfully drilled 30 RC holes, including second diamond tail holes in the Golden Dyke/Apollo target areas.Both tenements were 100% acquired by Auminco Goldfields Pty Ltd in late 2012 and combined into one tenement EL4987. Nagambie Resources Ltd purchased Auminco Goldfields in July 2014. EL4987 expired late 2015, during which time Nagambie Resources applied for a retention licence (RL6040) covering three square kilometres over the Sunday Creek Project. RL6040 was granted July 2017.Clonbinane Goldfield Pty Ltd was purchased by Mawson Gold Ltd in February 2020.Mawson drilled 30 holes for 6,928 m and made the first discoveries to depth.Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style ofmineralization.Refer to the description in the main body of the release.Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the followinginformation for all Material drill holes:easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collardip and azimuth of the holedown hole length and interception depth hole length.If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case.Refer to appendicesData aggregation methodsIn reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. cutting of high-grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated.See "Further Information" and "Metal Equivalent Calculation" in main text of press release.Relationship
between
mineralization
widths and
intercept lengthsThese relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.If the geometry of the mineralization with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g 'down holelength, true width not known').See reporting of true widths in the body of the press release.DiagramsAppropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported. These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.The results of the diamond drilling are displayed in the figures in the announcement.Balanced reportingWhere comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high-grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results.All results above 0.1 g/t Au have been tabulated in this announcement. The results are considered representative with no intended bias.Core loss, where material, is disclosed in tabulated drill intersections.Other substantive exploration dataOther exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances.Preliminary testing was reported in January 11, 2024. This established the general metallurgical test procedure for samples from the Sunday Creek deposits and demonstrated the basis for confidence in establishing prospects for economic recovery of contained gold and antimony to three separate products:Metallic gold product by gravity recoveryAntimony-gold flotation concentratePyrite-arsenopyrite-gold flotation concentrateTesting has now been expanded to include samples from additional zones of the mineral deposits and to refine metallurgical processes. The aim was to improve aspects of antimony concentrate production, maximise gold recovery to a high-grade metallic product, and to further investigate the nature of gold occurrence.The work, conducted by ALS Burnie Laboratories, focused on:Improving selectivity between sulphide minerals in the antimony flotation stage whilst maintaining high overall gold recovery.Further processing of the flotation concentrates, to assess the metallurgical response of contained gold.Mineralogical examination of selected product samples.It was demonstrated that, with appropriate process conditions, high antimony and gold recovery could be maintained whilst rejecting arsenic and iron sulphides in the first flotation stage. The antimony concentrate produced (~50% Sb, <0.2% As) is deemed to be attractive to the smelter market.Recovery of antimony to concentrate varied with feed type, and ranged from 83% to 93% for the samples tested from the antimony rich zones.Additional metallic gold was recovered from the flotation concentrate by gravity separation.The gold grade of the concentrate is a function of the proportion of feed gold associated with arsenic-iron sulphides, the ratio of gold to antimony in the feed, the gold recovered to the metallic gold product, and the flotation rate of gold in the first flotation stage.High overall gold recovery was achieved with all samples tested.Further WorkAdditional characterization testing across deposit zonesLocked cycle testing to confirm overall recoveriesMulti-stage cleaning optimization to maximize concentrate qualityPilot plant evaluation of larger samples Process plant design studies targeting Q1 2027 completionFurther workThe nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive.The Company has stated it will drill 200,000 m through 2025 to Q1 2027. See diagrams in presentation which highlight current and future drill plans.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317813
Source: Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd.
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Expansion diamond drilling is underway at Eloro Resources' Iska Iska Project, targeting the expansion and potential upgrading of Indicated Mineral Resources to support the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) process, following the successful completion of the Updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) in late April 2026.DSB-96 a step-out hole drilled 70m south of hole DSB-61, intersected 87.10 metres grading 73.26 g/t Silver (Ag) and 0.18% Tin (Sn) beginning at 40.40 metres within a broader interval of 126.10m grading 54.92 g/t Ag beginning at 40.40m. It also returned 17.9m grading 190.50 g/t Ag and 0.45% Sn within a broader interval of 48.00m grading 83.28 g/t Ag and 0.30% Sn beginning on surface (0m).Hole DSB-96 (in progress) also intersected the following mineralized intervals:30.00m grading 36.45 g/t Ag beginning at 385.50m.4.50m grading 40.67 g/t Ag and 0.11% Sn beginning at 270.00m, 7.50m grading 34.60 g/t Ag and 0.11% Sn beginning at 228.00m and 12.00m grading 32.25 g/t Ag beginning at 301.50m within a broader interval of 46.50m grading 23.77 g/t Ag beginning at 228.00m.DSB-94, a step-out hole collared 78 m northwest of discovery hole DSB-87, intersected 42.00m grading 38.98 g/t Ag beginning at 247.90m within a broader interval of 79.50m grading 30.83 g/t Ag beginning at 210.40m.Hole DSB-94 also intersected: A tin section of 43.50m grading 0.16% Sn beginning at 343.90m.7.50m grading 71.96 g/t Ag beginning at 330.40m.DSB-95 a step-out hole drilled 91m northwest of discovery hole DHK-31 intersected gold (Au)-Polymetallic intervals as follows:6.00m grading 1.15 g/t Au, 42.50 g/t Ag, 8.07% Zinc (Zn) and 1.23% Lead (Pb) beginning at 115.50m; and 7.50m grading 0.48 g/t Au, 1.52% Zn and 0.46% Pb beginning at 31.50m.Hole DSB-95 also intersected:7.50m grading 2.61% Zn, 0.32% Pb and 10.50 g/t Ag beginning at 414m. 3.00m grading 48.50 g/t Ag, 11.37% Zn and 2.30% Pb beginning at 378m. 3.00m grading 1.72% Zn and 0.54% Pb beginning at 213m. 3.00m grading 2.65% Zn and 0.39% Pb beginning at 145.50m.Note: True width is approximately 80% of core length.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2026) - Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX: ELO) (OTCQX: ELRRF) (FSE: P2QM) ("Eloro", or the "Company") is pleased to announce new assay results from three (3) drillholes (DSB-94, DSB-95 and DSB-96) of the first phase of its expansion diamond drilling program at its Iska Iska Project, Potosi Department, Southern Bolivia.
DSB-94 was drilled within the Silver (Sn) Domain on the western portion of the potential starter pit, which is approximately 1300m long, 500m wide and 500m deep. DSB-95 was drilled within the newly defined Gold-Silver-Zinc-Lead Epithermal Domain in the eastern portion of the potential starter pit, while DSB-96 was drilled within the central Polymetallic Domain. DSB-96 remains in progress and will resume following an approximately 45-day suspension due to technical and logistic issues.
The results from these three drillholes further expand the known footprints of the respective mineralized domains. The initial phase of the first expansion drilling program comprises approximately 10,000m of drilling distributed across approximately 30 drillholes, with the first three drillholes totalling 1,459.23m.
Figure 1 shows the location of the reported drill holes, Table 1 lists significant assay results, and Table 2 lists drill hole coordinates.
Tom Larsen, Eloro's CEO, commented: "We are pleased to report these results, which confirm higher-grade intercepts, particularly in drillholes DSB-94 and DSB-96. These higher-grade polymetallic intercepts indicate a consistent mineralization trend in the central part of the Potential Starter Pit. These initial positive results from the 2026 expansion drilling program provide a solid start as we work to expand the Indicated Mineral Resource in support of the planned PEA. We remain on track to complete the initial 10,000m phase of the expansion drilling program by year-end."
Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo., Eloro's Executive Vice President Exploration and Operations, Latin America, added: "The mineralized intercepts in drillholes DSB-94, DSB-95 and DSB-96 demonstrate the diverse nature of mineralization across the Santa Barbara Zone, extending from the Sn-Ag domain in the west to the Ag-Zn-Pb-Au Polymetallic domain in the east. These results further confirm the extensive polymetallic character of the system, with widespread multi-pulse overprints, which likely precipitated from within permeable lithologies, including breccias and dacites, through extensive fracture and fault systems. This geological setting has resulted in higher grade ore pockets that have the potential to contribute to the Indicated Mineral Resource inventory."
Dr. Arce continued: "These higher-grade mineralized zones remain open in all directions and at depth. Accordingly, further expansion drilling has the potential to further define and expand the Indicated Mineral Resource in the Santa Barbara Zone."
Figure 1: Location Map of Expansion Diamond Drill Holes, Santa Barbara zone, Iska Iska. The yellow circles highlight the location of holes DSB-94, DSB-95 and DSB-96 referred to in this release.
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Table 1: Definition Diamond Drill Results as of October 4, 2026, Santa Barbara, Iska Iska
Hole No. From (m) To (m) Length (m)Ag ZnPbSnAg eq. g/t%% %g/t DSB-9412.4016.904.5051.730.000.050.0857.36
72.4073.901.5060.700.000.390.1172.54
84.4089.655.2516.630.000.010.0420.50
121.90129.407.5015.500.000.020.0621.27
187.90189.401.507.300.000.090.1628.73
210.40289.9079.5030.830.000.110.0534.97Incl.247.90289.9042.0038.980.000.120.0644.06
310.90312.401.504.900.011.480.0022.41
316.90318.401.505.300.000.160.1020.47
330.40337.907.5071.960.000.060.0267.04
343.90387.4043.5010.900.020.050.1632.37
397.90399.401.500.300.020.000.1215.83DSB-960.0048.0048.0083.280.000.120.30114.61Incl.24.0041.9917.90190.50.000.070.45228.03
40.40166.50126.1054.920.010.240.1064.53Incl.40.40127.5087.1073.260.000.140.1889.89
202.50207.004.5034.330.100.080.0641.2
228.00274.5046.5023.770.240.120.0837.53Incl.228.00235.507.5034.60.070.180.1148.79Incl.243.00255.0012.0031.250.180.100.0640.24Incl.270.00274.504.5040.670.070.040.1151.76
286.50288.001.5058.000.040.090.1066.28
301.50313.5012.0032.250.010.020.0636.27
333.00334.501.5046.000.200.130.1869.08
336.00337.501.5043.000.070.080.1660.83
343.50352.509.008.500.340.020.0317.71
385.50415.5030.0036.450.070.020.0539.99
456.00457.501.5031.000.100.270.0741.57
520.50526.506.002.380.060.020.1726.2
540.00541.501.501.000.010.010.1419.77
545.25546.751.506.000.090.040.2642.06
550.50553.503.001.500.050.010.3346.16Hole No. From (m) To (m)Length (m) Ag Zn Pb SnAu Ag eq.g/t %% %g/t g/t DSB-957.5012.004.5011.830.160.190.000.1827.22
18.7521.002.259.670.010.280.000.3232.25
27.0028.501.501.000.601.130.000.0227.34
31.5039.007.506.401.520.460.010.4870.56
61.5063.001.502.000.040.010.000.3424.17
64.5066.001.500.500.020.000.000.2214.84
70.5072.001.508.000.030.020.001.68112.41
102.00103.501.501.001.650.230.010.0136.04
115.50121.506.0042.508.071.230.031.15280.93
128.25129.000.753.003.231.190.021.24157.18
138.00139.501.501.752.260.580.010.5384.59
142.50144.001.501.001.490.410.010.5066.50
145.50148.503.001.502.650.390.000.0156.91
198.00199.501.50118.001.391.340.000.39170.70
213.00216.003.0011.501.720.540.010.0150.58
250.50251.250.7525.004.311.190.010.01119.42
378.00381.003.0048.5011.372.300.030.08294.99
414.00421.507.5010.502.610.320.000.0264.23
456.00457.501.50202.001.752.610.010.01243.31Note: For calculation of silver equivalent, three-year averaged metal prices were used: Ag= $us 41.82/oz; Sn= $us 16.20/lb; Zn= $us 1.33/lb; Pb= $us 0.91/lb; and Au= $us 3,175.20/oz.
Table 2: Summary of Diamond Drill Hole Coordinates for Drill Holes Completed at Iska Iska as of October 4, 2026
Subtotal1,455.40Expansion Drill Program, Santa Barbara Potential Starter Pit Area
Hole DSB-94 was drilled in the Silver Tin Domain on the western part of the potential starter pit, whereas DSB-95 is in the newly defined Gold-Silver-Zinc-Lead Epithermal Domain to the eastern part of the potential starter pit, with DSB-96 located in the central Polymetallic Domain.
DSB-96 a step-out hole drilled 70m south of hole DSB-61, intersected 87.10 metres grading 73.26 g/t Ag and 0.18% Sn beginning at 40.40 metres within a broader interval of 126.10m grading 54.92 g/t Ag beginning at 40.40m. It also returned 17.9m grading 190.50 g/t Ag and 0.45% Sn within a broader interval of 48.00m grading 83.28 g/t Ag and 0.30% Sn beginning on surface (0m).Hole DSB-96 also intersected the following mineralized intervals:30.00m grading 36.45 g/t Ag beginning at 385.50m.4.50m grading 40.67 g/t Ag and 0.11% Sn beginning at 270.00m, 7.50m grading 34.60 g/t Ag and 0.11% Sn beginning at 228.00m and 12.00m grading 32.25 g/t Ag beginning at 301.50m within a broader interval of 46.50m grading 23.77 g/t Ag beginning at 228.00m.12.00m grading 32.25 g/t Ag beginning at 301.50m.3.00 metres grading 0.33% Sn beginning at 550.50m.DSB-94 a step-out hole collared 78 m northwest of discovery hole DSB-87 intersected 42.00m grading 38.98 g/t Ag beginning at 247.90m within a broader interval of 79.50m grading 30.83 g/t Ag beginning at 210.40m.Hole DSB-94 also intersected: A tin section of 43.50m grading 0.16% Sn beginning at 343.90m.7.50m grading 71.96 g/t Ag beginning at 330.40m.1.50m grading 60.70 g/t Ag beginning at 72.40m.4.50m grading 51.73 g/t Ag beginning at 12.40m.DSB-95 a step-out hole drilled 91m northwest of discovery hole DHK-31 intersected gold (Au)-Polymetallic intervals as follows:6.00m grading 1.15 g/t Au, 42.50 g/t Ag, 8.07% Zn and 1.23% Pb beginning at 115.50m; and 7.50m grading 0.48 g/t Au, 1.52% Zn and 0.46% Pb beginning at 31.50m.Hole DSB-95 also intersected:7.50m grading 2.61% Zn, 0.32% Pb and 10.50 g/t Ag beginning at 414m.3.00m grading 48.50 g/t Ag, 11.37% Zn and 2.30% Pb beginning at 378m.3.00m grading 1.72% Zn and 0.54% Pb beginning at 213m.3.00m grading 2.65% Zn and 0.39% Pb beginning at 145.50m.1.50m grading 202.00 g/t Ag, 1.75% Zn and 2.61% Pb beginning at 456.00m.1.50m grading 118.00 g/t Ag, 1.39% Zn and 1.34% Pb beginning at 198.00m.1.50m grading 1.68 g/t Au beginning at 70.50m.1.50m grading 1.65% Zn beginning at 102m.1.50m grading 0.53 g/t Au and 2.26% Zn beginning at 138m. 1.50m grading 0.50 g/t Au, 1.49% Zn and 0.41% Pb beginning at 142.50m.0.75m grading 1.24 g/t Au, 3.23% Zn and 1.19% Pb beginning at 128.25m.0.75m grading 4.31% Zn and 1.19% Pb beginning at 250.50m.Qualified Person
Dr. Osvaldo Arce, P.Geo. Executive Vice President, Latin America for Eloro and General Manager of Eloro's Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza S.R.L, and a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Dr. Arce who has more than 35 years of mineral exploration and extensive mining expertise across several countries in North and South America manages the overall technical program and supervises all field work conducted at Iska Iska.
Eloro utilized both ALS and AHK for drill core analyses, both of whom are major international accredited laboratories. Drill samples sent to ALS were prepared in both ALS Bolivia Ltda's preparation facility in Oruro, Bolivia and the preparation facility operated by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the main ALS Global laboratory in Lima for analysis. Drill core samples sent to AHK Laboratories are also prepared by AHK in Tupiza with pulps sent to the AHK laboratory in Lima, Peru.
Silver (Ag), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) are analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) using a four-acid digestion; Sn is analyzed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Au is analyzed by fire assay on 50g pulps with an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) finish. AAS measures absorbed light to quantify elements, while ICP, such as ICP-OES or ICP-MS, measure emitted light or ions to determine elements. XRF uses fluorescent X-rays to excite atoms and to emit X-rays that reveal the presence and concentration of tin. Sample size in ICP typically ranges from 100 mg (0.1 g) to 1 g, for AAS, is usually less than 100 mg (0.1 g) and for XRF is ideally below 75 µm.
Check samples between ALS and AHK are regularly done as a QA/QC check. AHK is following the same analytical protocols used as with ALS and with the same QA/QC protocols except for Sn for which a sodium peroxide fusion is used at AHK following by ICP. Check comparisons of Sn results from ALS and ALS indicate no statistically significant difference between results using the two different analytical techniques.
Eloro employs an industry standard QA/QC program with standards, blanks and duplicates inserted into each batch of samples analyzed at both laboratories with selected check samples sent to a separate accredited laboratory. Check results are regularly monitored.
About Iska Iska
The Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project is a road accessible, royalty-free property, located 48 km north of Tupiza city, in the Sud Chichas Province of the Department of Potosi in southern Bolivia. Eloro, through its Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza SRL, has a 99% joint venture interest and a 100% economic participation interest in Iska Iska.
Iska Iska is a major silver-tin polymetallic porphyry-epithermal complex associated with a Miocene collapsed/resurgent caldera, emplaced on Ordovician age rocks with major breccia pipes, dacitic domes and hydrothermal breccias. The caldera is 1.6 km by 1.8 km in dimension with a vertical extent of at least 1km. Mineralization age is similar to Cerro Rico de Potosí and other major deposits such as San Vicente, Chorolque, Tasna and Tatasi, all located along the same overall geological trend.
Eloro began underground diamond drilling from the Huayra Kasa underground workings at Iska Iska on September 13, 2020. On January 26, 2021, Eloro announced significant results from the first drilling at the Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe (SBBP) including the discovery hole DHK-15 which returned 29.53g Ag/t, 0.078g Au/t, 1.45%Zn, 0.59%Pb, 0.080%Cu and 0.056%Sn over 257.5m, from surface. Subsequent drilling has confirmed the presence of significant values of Ag-Sn polymetallic mineralization in the SBBP and the adjacent Central Breccia Pipe (CBP). A substantive mineralized envelope which is open along strike and down-dip extends around both major breccia pipes. Continuous channel sampling along the walls of the Santa Barbara Adit located to the east of SBBP returned average grades of 164.96 g Ag/t, 0.46%Sn, 3.46% Pb and 0.14% Cu over 166m including 446 g Ag/t, 9.03% Pb and 1.16% Sn over 56.19m. The west end of the adit intersects the end of the SBBP.
Since the initial discovery hole Eloro has released a number of significant drill results in the SBBP and the surrounding mineralized envelope which, along with geophysical data, has defined an extensive target zone. On October 17, 2023, Eloro filed the NI 43-101 Technical Report outlining the initial inferred MRE for Iska Iska, prepared by independent consultants Micon International Limited. The MRE was reported in two domains, the Polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) Domain which is primarily in the east and south of the Santa Barbara deposit and the Tin (Sn-Ag-Pb) Domain which is primarily in the west and north.
Metallurgical tests reported on January 23, 2024, from a 6.3 tonne PQ drill core bulk sample representative of the higher grade Polymetallic (Ag-Zn-Pb) Domain returned a significantly higher average silver value of 91 g Ag/t compared to the weighted average grade of the original twinned holes at 31 g Ag/t strongly suggesting that the average silver grade was likely significantly underreported in the original twinned holes due to the much smaller sample size.
The Company reported on July 30, 2024, that updated modelling of the potential starter pit area at Santa Barbara zone highlights the importance of completing additional drilling to better define the grade and extent of the mineral resource in this area. Areas with higher-grade resource typically have much better drilling density but holes outside the core potential pit area are too widely spaced to give an accurate estimate of grade.
On September 4, 2024, the Company announced the restart of definition drilling in the potential starter pit area at Santa Barbara. It was highly focused on infill and step-out drill program in order to better define the full vertical and lateral extent of high-grade Sn and Ag mineralization, expanding higher-grade Sn mineralization to the west and the silver to the central and west parts. Also, to fill-in gaps that were formerly categorized as low-grade or internal waste in the mineral resource model and to drill in a closer-spacing 50m x 50m grid. Previous drilling has shown that areas with high-grade mineralization typically have much better drilling density, whereas holes outside the core area are too widely spaced to give an accurate grade estimate. This increased drilling density is particularly important for defining the extent of the high-grade Ag-bearing and Sn-bearing structures, and for categorizing the mineral resources from inferred to indicated, which have a major influence on overall grade and resources that will contribute to the PEA.
Since September 4, 2024, the Company has completed 27 drill holes totalling 14,085.80 metres of definition drilling in 2 distinct phases of diamond drilling in the potential starter pit area of the Santa Barbara Zone. This drilling has continued to intersect strong, broad zones and high-grade mineralization with good continuity in both the predominant Sn-Ag domain to the west (15 drill holes) and in the predominant Ag-Zn-Polymetallic domain to the east (12 drill holes). Both zones remain open along and across strike as well as downdip.
The intercepts of 151.47 g Ag/t over 135m found in hole DSB-75; 66.90g Ag/t over 289.13m in hole DSB-68; 126.10g Ag/t over 122.03m, 127.49g Ag/t over 41.25m and 49.71g Ag/t over 142.50m found in hole DSB-69; and 45.71g Ag/t over 81.00m and 30.08g Ag/t over 255.75m found in hole DSB-70 confirm the presence of continued silver pockets grading over 50 g Ag/t. Moreover, tin enriched pockets such as 1.39% Sn over 33m, 0.74% Sn over 87m found in hole DSB-72 and 0.55% Sn over 49.5m, 0.34% Sn over 91.5m, 0.31% Sn over 103.5m in hole DSB-74 demonstrate the existence of consistent high grade tin pockets at the Santa Barbara zone. The presence of intercepts such as 1.41% Zn over 151.50m in hole DSB-91, 1.77% Zn over 238.50m and 1.72% Zn over 456m found in hole DSB-88 reveal continuous Zn (and Pb) ore shoots in the property.
The extent of the Potential Starter Pit Zone has expanded with drillhole DSB-92, intersecting 90 metres grading 61.05 g/t Ag and 0.20% Sn, including: 15.00 metres grading 173.30 g/t Ag, 0.15% Sn and 1.59 g/t Au. It also intersected 238.50 metres grading 1.77% Zn and 0.57% Pb, including 204 metres grading 2.06% Zn and 0.62% Pb. DSB-93 intersected the highest silver interval obtained thus far at Iska Iska with 72.00 metres grading 294.81g/t Ag and 0.44% Pb. These results have further expanded, at least 200m laterally, the higher-grade tin and silver and polymetallic (Ag-Sn-Zn-Pb) mineralization and the footprint of this large multi-phase hydrothermal system at Iska Iska.
About Eloro Resources Ltd.
Eloro is an exploration and mine development company with a portfolio of precious and base-metal properties in Bolivia, Peru and Quebec. Eloro, through its Bolivian subsidiary, Minera Tupiza SRL, has a 99% joint venture interest and a 100% economic participation interest in the highly prospective Iska Iska Property, which can be classified as a polymetallic epithermal-porphyry complex, a significant mineral deposit type in the Potosi Department, in southern Bolivia. A NI 43-101 Technical Report on Iska Iska, which was completed by Micon International Limited, is available on Eloro's website and under its filings on SEDAR+. Iska Iska is a road-accessible, royalty-free property. Eloro also owns an 82% interest in the La Victoria Gold/Silver Project, located in the North-Central Mineral Belt of Peru some 50 km south of the Lagunas Norte Gold Mine and the La Arena Gold Mine.
For further information please contact either Thomas G. Larsen, Chairman and CEO or Jorge Estepa, Vice-President at (416) 868-9168.
Information in this news release may contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Company's plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317818
Source: Eloro Resources Ltd.
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Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $85.44, demonstrating a +1.97% change from the preceding day's closing price. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.58%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.49%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.45%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the power company had lost 4.9% was narrower than the Utilities sector's loss of 5.94% and lagged the S&P 500's gain of 0.84%.
The upcoming earnings release of Southern Co. will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on November 5, 2026. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $1.65, indicating a 3.13% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $8.34 billion, up 6.56% from the year-ago period.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $4.59 per share and a revenue of $31.04 billion, demonstrating changes of +6.74% and +5.02%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Southern Co. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, there's been no change in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Southern Co. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Investors should also note Southern Co.'s current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 18.25. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 16.68.
It's also important to note that SO currently trades at a PEG ratio of 2.23. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. The Utility - Electric Power was holding an average PEG ratio of 2.46 at yesterday's closing price.
The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 112, placing it within the top 46% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.
Both Southern Company and Duke Energy are locking in massive data center contracts, but funding billions in new generation while protecting a retirement income payout creates a tension only one of them has actually solved.
GADSDEN, Ala., Sept. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gates Little, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Southern Banc Company, Inc. (OTCID: SRNN), the holding company for The Southern Bank Company, announced unaudited fourth quarter and audited full-year results for the fourth quarter and year ended June 30, 2026.
For the three months ended June 30, 2026, the Company reported net income of approximately $493,000, or $0.65 per basic and $0.64 per diluted share compared to net income of approximately $140,000, or $0.18 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2025. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, the Company recorded net income of approximately $1,415,000, or $1.86 per basic and $1.85 per diluted share, compared to net income of approximately $915,000, or $1.20 per basic and diluted share, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025.
For the three months ended June 30, 2026, net interest income increased approximately $599,000, or 26.39% compared to the same period in 2025. The increase in net interest income for the three-month period was primarily attributable to an increase in interest and fees on loans in the amount of approximately $615,000, or 24.78%, and an increase in interest on securities of approximately $86,000, or 41.35%. During the period, interest on deposits decreased approximately $5,000, or 0.73%. For the three months ended June 30, 2026, the Company recorded approximately $330,000 in provision for loan losses, compared to $249,000 for the same period in 2025.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, net interest income increased approximately $1,052,000, or 11.90% compared to fiscal year 2025. The increase in net interest income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, was primarily attributable to an increase in interest and fees on loans of approximately $642,000 or 6.40%, an increase in interest on securities of approximately $311,000, or 42.20%, and an increase in other interest income of approximately $149,000 or 19.33%, offset in part by an increase in interest on deposits of approximately $50,000, or 1.85% compared to fiscal year 2025. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, the Company recorded approximately $471,000 in provision for loan losses compared to $790,000 in 2025.
For the three months ended June 30, 2026, non-interest income decreased approximately $48,000, or 31.17% compared to the same period in 2025. The decrease in non-interest income was primarily attributable to a decrease in miscellaneous income of approximately $47,000, or 37.90%.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, non-interest income decreased approximately $74,000, or 12.44% compared to fiscal year 2025. The decrease in non-interest income was primarily attributable to a decrease in miscellaneous income of approximately $65,000, or 13.86%, and a decrease in customer service fees of approximately $9,000, or 7.14%.
For the three months ended June 30, 2026, total non-interest expense decreased approximately $25,000, or 1.24%, compared to the same three-month period in 2025. The decrease in non-interest expense for the three-month period was primarily attributable to decreases in salaries and benefits of approximately $64,000, or 4.81%, professional services of approximately $43,000, or 20.77%, office occupancy expenses of approximately $3,000, or 3.33%, offset in part by increases in data processing expense of approximately $19,000, or 9.79% and other operating expense of approximately $64,000, or 32.32%.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, total non-interest expense increased approximately $605,000, or 8.14%, compared to fiscal year 2025. The increase in total non-interest expense for the fiscal year was primarily attributable to increases in salary and benefit expense of approximately $468,000, or 10.01%, data processing expense of approximately $60,000, or 8.02%, other operating expense of approximately $120,000, or 13.89%, offset in part by a decrease in professional services expense of approximately $40,000, or 5.18% and office occupancy expense of approximately $5,000, or 1.33%.
The Company’s total assets on June 30, 2026, were approximately $131.8 million compared to $124.0 million on June 30, 2025. Total stockholders’ equity was approximately $18.4 million, or 13.97% of assets and $16.7 million, or 13.48% of assets on June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The Company’s capital position remained strong at June 30, 2026. The increase in stockholders’ equity was primarily attributable to fiscal year net income in addition to a decrease in the accumulated comprehensive losses due an improvement in the bond market.
The improvement in earnings for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2026 were primarily driven by higher net interest income, the result of growth in both loans receivable and securities available for sale. For the fiscal year, the Company also benefited from lower provision for loan losses, partially offset by higher salaries and employee benefits, data processing expense, and other operating expense.
The fiscal year end 2026 results include audited financial information, while the specific results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 are unaudited. The unaudited financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2026, has been prepared on the same basis as our audited financial information and includes, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to present the data for such periods. The Company expects to release its full fiscal year-end 2026 financial information, including the Annual Report to Shareholders in October of 2026. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results. The Bank has four full-service banking offices located in Gadsden, Albertville, Guntersville, and Centre, AL, and one loan production office in Birmingham, AL. The stock of The Southern Banc Company, Inc. is listed on the OTC Basic Market under the symbol “SRNN”.
Certain statements in this release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “target,” “plan,” “project,” “continue,” or the negatives thereof, or other variations thereon or similar terminology, and are made on the basis of management’s plans and current analyses of the Company, its business and the industry as a whole. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic conditions, competition, interest rate sensitivity and exposure to regulatory and legislative changes. The above factors, in some cases, have affected, and in the future could affect the Company’s financial performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.
(Selected financial data attached)
THE SOUTHERN BANC COMPANY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands) June 30, June 30, 2026 2025 (Audited) (Audited) ASSETS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS$19,184 $25,208 SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE, at fair value 43,424 39,327 FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK (FHLB) STOCK 133 125 LOANS RECEIVABLE, net of allowance for loan losses of $1,715 and $1,839, respectively 65,358 55,794 PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT, net 1,148 1,007 ACCRUED INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS RECEIVABLE 1,105 869 PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER ASSETS 1,413 1,706 TOTAL ASSETS$131,765 $124,036 LIABILITIES
DEPOSITS$104,341 $101,307 FHLB ADVANCES AND OTHER BORROWED MONEY 0 0 OTHER LIABILITIES 9,012 6,011 TOTAL LIABILITIES 113,353 107,318 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share
500,000 shares authorized; no shares issued
and outstanding - - Common stock, par value $.01 per share,
3,500,000 authorized, 1,454,750 shares issued,
806,086 shares outstanding 15 15 Additional paid-in capital 13,951 13,948 Shares held in trust, 45,911 and 44,081 shares at cost,
respectively (787) (762)Retained earnings 16,215 14,799 Treasury stock, at cost, 648,664 shares (8,825) (8,825)Accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss) (2,157) (2,457)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 18,412 16,718
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
$131,765 $124,036 THE SOUTHERN BANC COMPANY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollar Amounts in Thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Year Ended June 30, June 30, 2026
(Unaudited) 2025
(Unaudited) 2026
(Audited) 2025
(Audited) INTEREST INCOME:
Interest and fees on loans$3,097 $2,482 $10,672$10,030Interest and dividends on securities 294 208 1,048 737Other interest income 154 261 920 771Total interest income 3,545 2,951 12,640 11,538
INTEREST EXPENSE: Interest on deposits 676 681 2,751 2,701Interest on borrowings 0 0 0 0Total interest expense 676 681 2,751 2,701Net interest income before provision for loan losses 2,869 2,270 9,890 8,837Provision for loan losses 330 249 471 790Net interest income after provision for loan losses 2,539 2,021 9,419 8,047
NON-INTEREST INCOME: Fees and other non-interest income 29 30 117 126Miscellaneous income 77 124 404 469Total non-interest income 106 154 521 595
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE: Salaries and employee benefits 1,266 1,330 5,145 4,677Equipment and Occupancy expenses 87 90 371 376Professional Services Expense 164 207 732 772Data Processing Expense 213 194 808 748Loss on sale of securities, net 2 0 2 0Other operating expense 262 198 984 864Total non-interest expense 1,994 2,019 8,042 7,437Income before income taxes 651 156
1,897
1,205 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 158 16 482 290Net Income$493 $140 $1,415$915EARNINGS PER SHARE: Basic$0.65 $0.18 $1.86$1.20Diluted$0.64 $0.18 $1.85$1.20 DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE$--- $--- $---$--- AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 760,175 762,005 760,752 760,322Diluted 764,709 765,124 764,813 763,237 Contact: Gates Little
(256) 543-3860
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $VENU #2026--Venu Holding Corporation (“VENU” or the “Company”) (NYSE AMERICAN: VENU), an owner, operator, and developer of premium live entertainment destinations, today announced that its Founder, Chairman and CEO J.W. Roth has been named CEO of the Year at the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest 2026 Best in Business Awards. The community-voted awards recognize leaders and organizations moving the regional economy forward. "This one means a lot because.
With Treasury yields climbing past 5% and both utility giants sliding in price, picking the wrong one for your retirement portfolio could cost you years of lost income or growth. The answer depends entirely on which problem you are trying…
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NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE | NEE Price Prediction) or Southern Company (NYSE:SO): which utility is the better fit for someone building a retirement portfolio right now? Both stocks slipped over the past month, NextEra by 7.58% and Southern by 6.23%. Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 5.17%, raising the hurdle for every income stock. Southern pays $0.76 per share each quarter versus NextEra’s $0.6232. A bigger per-share check only translates into a bigger yield once you factor in what each stock costs to buy, and the two trade at different levels. Measured against price, Southern at $82.74 yields 3.6%, while NextEra at $75.63 yields 3.15%.
Income Today: Southern Takes This Round Southern’s forward annualized dividend is $3.04 per share, with $3.00 paid over the trailing 12 months. Its latest raise moved the quarterly payment from $0.74 to $0.76, the small, predictable step retirees can budget around. NextEra’s forward rate is $2.4928, with $2.4361 paid over the trailing 12 months, after a raise from $0.5665 to $0.6232.
One warning on NextEra’s history: the per-share dividend reads $1.40 at the August 27, 2020 ex-dividend date and $0.35 at the November 25, 2020 date. That change reflects a stock split, which raised the share count and left holders’ total income intact. For cash needed today, Southern wins.
Dividend Growth: NextEra Raises Faster NextEra guides to dividend growth of roughly 10% per year through 2026 off a 2024 base, then 6% per year from year-end 2026 through 2028. Earnings support it: management targets 8%+ compound annual adjusted EPS growth through 2032 off a 2025 base of $3.71, with 2026 guidance of $3.92 to $4.02. Florida Power & Light’s regulatory capital employed grew about 9.3%, earning a regulatory ROE near 11.7%.
Southern offered no dividend growth target on its second-quarter call. It expects 2026 adjusted EPS “near or at the top” of its $4.50 to $4.60 range, solid but missing a multi-year anchor. Over 10 years, NextEra shares returned 219.3% versus Southern’s 143.17%. NextEra wins growth.
Dividend Safety: Southern’s Regulated Base Holds Up Better Utility dividends come from earnings regulators allow. Commissions set rates in rate cases and grant an allowed return on equity on invested capital, so capital spending expands the rate base that funds payouts. Southern’s earnings come mostly from rate-regulated operations across the Southeast. Base rates are held stable in Georgia and Alabama until 2029, and its large-load contracts, totaling more than 17 gigawatts, carry minimum bills covering at least 100% of additional cost to serve. Its beta is 0.316 versus NextEra’s 0.644.
NextEra pairs its Florida utility with NextEra Energy Resources, a competitive renewables and storage developer holding a 35.1 gigawatt backlog. That unit grew adjusted earnings about 18% last quarter, yet it lives with power-market pricing, clean energy policy changes, and capital market access. The pending Dominion Energy (NYSE:D) combination, expected to close in H2 2027, adds approval risk. Southern carries its own drag: roughly $205M of pre-tax wind repowering charges remaining in 2026. Both payouts look well covered by guided earnings, but Southern wins on the quality of what supports the check.
Verdict: Southern for Retirees Living on Income, NextEra for Builders For an investor already retired and drawing dividends to pay bills, Southern is the stronger fit. It yields more, trades at 17 times forward earnings versus NextEra’s 18, swings less, and draws income from a regulated base with rates locked in its two biggest states. (Building a ladder of payers like this one so the checks cover the bills without selling shares is the whole point of our free dividend ladder guide.)
For an investor several years from retirement who can reinvest, NextEra is the better holding. Guided raises supports by 8%+ earnings growth build a larger income stream later.
One event could flip this call: approval of the Dominion deal. Management says it would support about 11% annual growth in regulated capital employed through 2032, shifting NextEra toward regulated earnings and eating away Southern’s safety edge. That approval process will be worth tracking through 2027.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Potential Southern Extension of Leviathan: 3D modelling suggests the new Southern Flats zone may be an approximate 1 km southern extension, and therefore potentially continuous with, the Leviathan copper porphyry system defined to the north.Drilling to Fill the Gap: Assays are currently pending for drill hole HER-26-04. Two drill rigs are currently drilling holes HER-26-05 and HER-26-06, focused on expanding Leviathan to the south and infilling the 1-kilometer gap in drilling towards Southern Flats.Significant Scale Potential: Mineralization at both Southern Flats and Leviathan is centered on a large magnetotelluric ("MT") and induced polarization ("IP") anomaly that continues several kilometers south into the largely untested "Pegasus" target. The Hook target 3 km to the east appears to be a parallel structure with a similar geophysical anomaly.Vertically Extensive: Drilling at Southern Flats shows strong vertical continuity. HER-26-01 was terminated in a late porphyry intrusion. Mineralization is interpreted to occur on either side of the late porphyry however the hole was terminated due to depth.Enrichment Potential: The strong copper enrichment that occurs in the upper portion of Leviathan has not yet been located at Southern Flats, with potential for a higher-grade subzone elsewhere within the target area. Bornite mineralization below the leach cap in 26-01 suggests that this style of mineralization may be present in Southern Flats.Shallowing Potential: 3D modelling suggests the cover rocks thin to the south, toward the Pegasus target (see Figure 3 long-section).Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 30, 2026) - Hercules Metals Corp. (TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) ("Hercules" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a 200 m step-out drill hole HER-26-01 ("26-01") has extended mineralization west of the Southern Flats discovery hole HER-25-25 (see PR dated May 26, 2026). The Southern Flats zone represents the second copper porphyry centre discovered at the Company's Hercules Project in western Idaho (the "Property") since 2023, when the Leviathan copper porphyry system was initially discovered.
HER-26-01 encountered transitional phyllic to outer potassic alteration, hosting a unique style of porphyry copper mineralization grading:
287 m of 0.58% CuEq (0.43% Cu, 158 ppm Mo, 4.0 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au)incl. 66 m of 0.80% CuEq (0.61% Cu, 89 ppm Mo, 11.3 g/t Ag, 0.04 g/t Au)Unlike at the Leviathan centre, porphyry intrusions in HER-26-01 appear steeply dipping to subvertical. The hole ended in a lower grade late-stage porphyry intrusion interpreted to be steeply dipping.
Both Southern Flats and Leviathan are interpreted to have been emplaced along a major regional fault structure. MT geophysics shows potential for the same copper porphyry mineralization to continue further along the same structure, into the largely untested Pegasus target.
Geological mapping and drilling indicate that Southern Flats may be located within a "down-dropped" fault block, resulting in increased cover thickness. However, 3D modelling also indicates that cover thickness decreases again to the south, and mineralization may occur closer to surface within the Pegasus Zone.
Ongoing drilling has two rigs focused on the high-priority Leviathan copper porphyry system at 200 m drill spacing. Leviathan's mineralization has currently been traced to over 1.35 km in strike, up to 750 m in width, and approximately 500 m vertical extent. Mineralization remains open to the north, south, and at depth. Assays are now pending for drill hole HER-26-04, while two in-progress drill holes, HER-26-05 and HER-26-06, are expanding Leviathan to the south, infilling a large 1-kilometer gap in drilling between Leviathan and Southern Flats.
An extensive higher-grade copper hypogene enrichment blanket, containing secondary bornite, occurs within the shallowest portions of the Leviathan system. Drilling will continue to prioritize expansion of this high-priority target at Leviathan.
Figure 1: Drill plan showing MT conductivity and IP chargeability targets defining four key zones across the Hercules Property. Warmer colours are more conductive. As part of the current program, drill holes HER-26-04, 26-05, and 26-06 are extending Leviathan to the south and filling a large gap toward newly discovered mineralization in holes HER-25-25 and HER-26-01.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/316699_9805cff36454e9c5_002full.jpg
Figure 2: Cross-section (±250 m, looking north) showing Southern Flats holes HER-25-25 (see PR dated May 26, 2026) and HER-26-01 (this release). Interpreted geology and alteration shown for context. Select samples for silver, lead and zinc in the Jurassic cover were taken from a depth of 611.12 m and continued to the end of the hole, as indicated in the figure above.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9425/316699_9805cff36454e9c5_003full.jpg
Figure 3: Long-section, facing east, showing the Leviathan copper porphyry system and overlying epithermal silver mineralization, with the new Southern Flats discovery and the largely untested Pegasus target along strike to the south. The section is approximately coincident with the major regional structure along which MT conductivity anomalies are associated with copper porphyry mineralization. The unconformity in red represents the boundary between underlying copper porphyry mineralization and an overlying epithermal silver system.
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Chris Paul, SVP Exploration for Hercules Metals commented, "Modern systematic exploration has led to two significant porphyry copper discoveries at Hercules since 2023, and, importantly, has provided us with a repeatable methodology for identifying and vectoring toward new porphyry centres across the district. Our approach begins with district-scale MT surveys at progressively tighter-spacing, followed by deep-penetrating IP surveys to refine discrete targets and, ultimately drill, vectoring toward the centres of new porphyry systems using well-established alteration zoning patterns within the Hercules Project porphyry district.
The Southern Flats discovery provides a proof of concept which can now be applied at other high-priority targets on the Property, including Hook and Pegasus. The first reconnaissance drill hole at the Hook target has already intersected key alteration and geological features consistent with the periphery of a porphyry system. With the anomaly beginning 100 meters from surface, Hook has emerged as our new highest-priority exploration target outside of Leviathan.
To date, systematic exploration has only been applied to approximately 20% of our 100,000-acre land position, leaving substantially more opportunities to continue identifying additional porphyry centres across the broader 73 km Olympus copper belt while drilling at Leviathan continues to aggressively expand our flagship discovery on 200 meter centres."
The Company has completed its second C$2.0 million anniversary payment to Barrick Mining Corporation under the option agreement (see PR dated August 18, 2025). This is the second of four payments made by Hercules to complete the ownership of a 73 km belt of claims known as the "Olympus Project." Upon the final $2 million payment in 2028, the Company will own over 100,000 acres in America's newest copper porphyry belt. At the Company's election, the payment was made entirely in cash rather than common shares.
Sample Analysis and QAQC
All drill core samples were prepped at MSA Labs in Elko, Nevada and analyzed at MSA Labs in Langley, British Columbia, an ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 certified laboratory. Samples were dried and crushed to 2 mm, from which a 250 g sub-sample split was then pulverized to 85% passing a 75 micron sieve. Following preparation, assays were determined by the IMS-230 method. A 0.25 g aliquot of the prepared pulp was digested in a 4-acid solution consisting of hydrochloric, nitric, perchloric and hydrofluoric acids. 4-acid is a near total digest and only the most highly resistant minerals are not dissolved. The resulting solution was analyzed via ICP-MS and ICP-ES for 48 elements and was corrected for inter-element spectral interferences. Lower detection limits for this procedure are 0.01 ppm for silver, 0.5 ppm for lead, 2 ppm for zinc, and 0.2 ppm for copper. Mercury is not reported due to volatilization in reaction with hydrofluoric acid and gold is not reported due to the small, 0.25 g aliquot size being insufficient to overcome the nugget effect.
Samples with initial results beyond the upper detection limit of the IMS-230 method were analyzed by procedures ICF-6Ag, ICF-6Cu, ICF-6Pb and ICF-6Zn. The thresholds are 100 ppm for silver, and >1% for copper, lead and zinc.
A 50 g split from the crushed and pulverized samples are composited into larger 500 g composite samples (consisting of ten continuous samples) and analyzed for gold utilizing CPA-Au1 photon assay method. Certain material gold results from the composite samples are then selected for re-analysis, by individual sample, as a 30 g fire assay (FAS-111 Method). Gold assays below detection limit are treated as zero values for composite calculations.
MSA Labs employs internal quality control standards, duplicates and blank samples at set frequencies.
Blind certified reference materials (CRMs) and blank samples were systematically inserted by the Company into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance/quality control protocol.
For further details regarding holes HER-25-25, HER-26-02 and HER 26-03 including applicable scientific and technical information and cautionary statements, see PR's dated May 26, 2026, June 16, 2026 and September 14, 2026, respectively.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed, verified and approved for disclosure by Dillon Hume, P.Geo. and Vice President, Exploration for the Company. Mr. Hume is a "Qualified Person" for Hercules Metals within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Hercules Metals Corp.
Hercules Metals Corp. (TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) is an exploration Company focused on developing America's newest porphyry copper district, in Idaho.
The 100% owned Hercules Project, located northwest of Cambridge, hosts the Leviathan porphyry copper system, one of the most important new discoveries in the country to date. The Company is well positioned for growth through continued drilling, supported by a strategic investment from Barrick Mining Corporation.
With the potential for significant scale, the Company's management and board of directors aims to deliver value to shareholders through proven discovery success.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws of an exemption from such registration is available.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipated", "appears", "assumption", "believe", "concept", "confidence", "developing", "estimate", "exploration", "focused", "forward", "future", "growth", "if", "indicates", "initial", "intended", "mapping", "may", "modelling", "ongoing", "opportunities", "option", "pending", "plan", "positioned", "potential", "priority", "progress", "project", "suggests", "target", "toward", "untested", "vectoring", and "will", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements, that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" (or not) be achieved, occur, provide, result or support in the future, or which, by their nature, refer to future events. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding: indications, interpretations or suggestions from completed drilling and other exploration programs and other work (including mapping, modelling and similar activities), ongoing, planned or other future drilling or other exploration programs and work (including the objectives or targets therefor, and the targeted, expected or potential results thereof, including any identification and vectoring toward new porphyry centres, any expansion of targets at Leviathan, Pegasus, Southern Flats or Hook, and any openness of the Leviathan system north, south or otherwise; style of mineralization that may be present in Southern Flats, location of Southern Flats within a "down-dropped" fault block and implications thereof (including cover thickness), style of mineralization may be present in Southern Flats, any higher grade sub-zone represented by the Southern Flats, and cover thickness to the south of Leviathan (including increasing, or decreasing or thinning thereof); exploration targets including Pegasus and Hook; scale potential (including at Leviathan and Southern Flats, and magnitude thereof); any extension of Leviathan at Southern Flats or otherwise; Hook appearing to be a parallel structure with a similar geophysical anomaly to Leviathan; and pending or other future assay results.
Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that those forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations, information and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the issuance of this press release. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which may prove to be incorrect, include those contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, as well as those stated in the Company's other public disclosure in 2026, including the prior press releases referenced in this press release, the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis (together with the accompanying financial statements) for the year ended December 31, 2025 and the quarters already ended and reported in 2026 (collectively, "2026 Disclosure"), available on the Company's website at www.herculesmetals.com and under its issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are inherently subject to assumptions, estimates, expectations, opinions, and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, which may cause actual results, activity, performance, developments or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, activity, performance, developments or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such assumptions, estimates, expectations, opinions, risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include those identified herein as well as those associated with general economic conditions; any mineralization at targets (including Southern Flats, Pegasus and Hook), if present, may differ materially from that observed at the Leviathan porphyry system; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; interpretations, indications, expectations and assumptions prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work; risks associated with the interpretation of data, geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as other assumptions risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company, and those set forth in the Company's other 2026 Disclosure, available on the Company's website at www.herculesmetals.com and/or documents filed under its issuer profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the issuance of this press release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained in this press release are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the cautionary statements and/or notes in the Company's other 2026 Disclosure.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
1 The intervals reported represent drill intercepts and insufficient data are available at this time to state the true thickness of the mineralized intervals.
2 Copper equivalent (CuEq) for drill intersections is calculated using a three-year trailing average for each commodity, which equates to US$ 4.20/lb Cu, US$ 2,600/oz Au, US$ 30.50/oz Ag and US$ 21.50/lb Mo, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.000512 * Mo ppm) + (0.010591 * Ag g/t) + (0.902879* Au g/t).
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/316699
Source: Hercules Metals Corp.
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In the latest trading session, Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) closed at $83.45, marking a +1.34% move from the previous day. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.17%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.26%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.09%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the power company had lost 6.42% was narrower than the Utilities sector's loss of 7.05% and lagged the S&P 500's loss of 0.24%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Southern Co. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on November 5, 2026. In that report, analysts expect Southern Co. to post earnings of $1.65 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 3.13%. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $8.34 billion, indicating a 6.56% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $4.59 per share and a revenue of $31.04 billion, signifying shifts of +6.74% and +5.02%, respectively, from the last year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Southern Co. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.05% upward. Southern Co. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Investors should also note Southern Co.'s current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 17.94. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 16.19.
Meanwhile, SO's PEG ratio is currently 2.19. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. By the end of yesterday's trading, the Utility - Electric Power industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.38.
The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 110, placing it within the top 45% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.
Following a patriotic Newport Harbor send-off with more than 60 of the area’s finest sportfishing vessels, veterans begin three days of fishing, healing and connection with Southern California’s sportfishing community
First-ever WHOW Cars & Coffee fundraiser kicked off a day of community support
2026 event is the largest fundraising year in WHOW history
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--130 combat-wounded veterans embarked on a meaningful sportfishing journey as they set out from Newport Harbor Saturday evening to participate in the ninth annual War Heroes on Water (WHOW) sportfishing tournament, presented by loanDepot. Supported by a fleet of more than 60 yachts and the dedicated owners, captains and crews who make the event possible, the five-day tournament features three days of sportfishing on the waters off the Southern California coast, providing veterans with opportunities for healing, connection and lasting camaraderie.
“This is our ninth year and our biggest year by far in fundraising,” said WHOW Founder Anthony Hsieh. “We're growing the support and we're growing the fundraising, but what matters most is the difference it makes in the lives of these veterans."
Share “This is our ninth year and our biggest year by far in fundraising,” said WHOW Founder Anthony Hsieh. “We're growing the support and we're growing the fundraising, but what matters most is the difference it makes in the lives of these veterans. The relationships they build with our yacht owners and crews over the next few days truly make a difference. They change lives, and they save lives.”
WHOW is the world's largest nonprofit sportfishing tournament dedicated to veterans. It brings combat-wounded veterans together with Southern California's sportfishing community to support healing, create lifelong connections and fund year-round veterans' programs. Including this year’s event, the tournament has brought more than 800 veterans, many of whom have received the nation’s highest military decorations, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, to Southern California to experience the renowned fishing and scenic beauty of the Pacific Ocean.
“War Heroes on Water is a life-changing event, and the veterans who participate in it are impacted deeply by the support they receive from this community,” said Tom Kilgannon. “What happens here is never one-and-done. The relationships formed during this weekend continue long after the boats return to shore, and that ongoing support makes a real difference in the lives of our veterans and their families.”
This year’s tournament marks the largest fundraising year for WHOW since its inception in 2018, raising more than $1.75 million through the generosity of the WHOW community and fundraising initiatives, including a silent auction featuring rare collectibles, premier sporting events, luxury getaways and one-of-a-kind experiences. The record year brings WHOW’s cumulative fundraising total to more than $9.75 million through Freedom Alliance. These funds support thousands of veterans and military families through Freedom Alliance's year-round programs, including therapeutic retreats, adaptive equipment, customized vehicles, homes and scholarships for the children of military heroes.
The weekend began with the first-ever WHOW Cars & Coffee fundraiser in Irvine, where a crowd of more than 1,500 joined combat-wounded veterans in a powerful show of community support. The event brought together dozens of hypercars and supercars from across the country, creating a coast-to-coast collection valued at more than $200 million and further demonstrating the growing community support behind WHOW.
Later Saturday, veterans gathered with captains, crews, supporters and members of the WHOW family for the tournament’s welcome celebration and opening ceremonies in Newport Basin. Country artist Clay Hollis performed the National Anthem alongside the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard before the WHOW fleet lined up in formation for a patriotic boat parade through Newport Harbor. Members of the local community gathered along the parade route, on land and on the water, to honor the veterans and send the fleet out to sea.
“This is our ninth year, our largest year and our best year yet,” said WHOW Tournament Director Rod Halperin. “The support surrounding this tournament has been incredible, and we’re excited to finally get these veterans out on the water. We have great fishing ahead of us, an incredible fleet behind us and a community that continues to show our heroes how much they are loved and supported.”
Once beyond Newport Harbor, the fishing began. For three days, captains and crews will coach the veterans and work to get them on fish as each team competes for a place on the podium. But the heart of WHOW is the time shared away from shore, where the ocean creates space for veterans to connect with peers, share experiences and forge lasting bonds.
The fishing concludes Monday, September 28, with on-water closing ceremonies just outside Avalon Harbor, including a flyover by Tiger Squadron’s vintage WWII aircraft as the WHOW fleet lines up. Teams will then gather on Catalina Island’s iconic Green Pier to weigh their catches and celebrate the tournament. Catalina residents and visitors are encouraged to join the public weigh-in beginning at 5:00 p.m. PT. The festivities will also be livestreamed. Watch the War Heroes on Water closing celebration livestream.
The tournament formally concludes with a private awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 29, when veterans reunite with their captains and crews to recognize the tournament’s accomplishments and celebrate the bonds formed at sea.
About War Heroes on Water
War Heroes on Water (WHOW) is the nation’s largest nonprofit sportfishing tournament for veterans, bringing together combat-wounded veterans and the Southern California sportfishing community to support healing, connection and year-round veterans’ programs. It was created in 2018 by loanDepot Founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh, who is also the owner and leader of Team Bad Company, a world-class, record-holding competitive sportfishing fleet. Through Hsieh's deep connections with the country’s sportfishing and business communities, WHOW has grown exponentially and is now the largest nonprofit sportfishing tournament for veterans in the world.
Additional information, including photos and videos from past tournaments, may be found at www.warheroesonwater.com | Instagram: @warheroesonwater | Facebook: www.facebook.com/WarHeroesonWater | YouTube: War Heroes on Water Fishing Tournament
About Freedom Alliance
Freedom Alliance is a charitable organization that provides help and support to wounded troops and military families. Freedom Alliance has awarded more than $33 million in college scholarships to the children of military heroes killed or disabled in military service and has spent millions more helping injured veterans and military families with outdoor recreational therapy trips, Heroes Vacations, care packages for deployed troops, mortgage-free homes, payment-free vehicles, all-terrain wheelchairs and much more. To learn more, visit www.FreedomAlliance.org or Facebook.com/FreedomAlliance.
About loanDepot
Since its launch in 2010, loanDepot (NYSE: LDI) has revolutionized the mortgage industry with digital innovations that make transacting easier, faster, and less stressful for customers and originators alike. The company, which is licensed in all 50 states, helps its customers achieve the American dream of homeownership through a broad suite of lending and real estate services that simplify one of life's most complex transactions. loanDepot is also committed to serving the communities in which its team lives and works through a variety of local and national philanthropic efforts.
If you've been an investor long enough, then you know utilities stocks are great dividend payers. Consumers will do whatever it takes to keep their lights turned on, after all.
But what kind of dividend income do these names generate? What would it take to produce, say $300 per month with a typical power utility name like Southern Company (SO -0.01%)?
It's not too difficult to figure out. Based on Southern Company's forward-looking annualized yield of 3.7%, you'd need 1,188 shares of the utility stock to produce $3,600 worth of yearly dividend income. That's roughly $98,485 worth of this stock if you're buying at today's price.
Image source: Getty Images.
A stake of this size obviously won't generate $300 per month, of course, since Southern Company pays its dividend quarterly. You'd need to split this $900 payment, made every three months, into three equal pieces if you specifically need $300 in accessible cash every month.
You could certainly do worse, too. While it's clearly not a growth stock, Southern Company has not only paid its quarterly dividend like clockwork for decades now, but it has also raised its annual per-share dividend for 25 consecutive years. And by more than a little. The company's current quarterly payment of $0.76 per share is up 35% from its $0.56 payout of a decade ago. That's average yearly growth of a little more than 3%, outpacing inflation for this time frame. Patient shareholders have also been rewarded with a little bit of capital appreciation during this stretch, although progress has been erratic.
SO data by YCharts
Regardless, Southern Company should first and foremost be seen as an income investment, a role it's historically played very, very well.
James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SO either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Disclaimer: I am not an investment advisor or professional. This article is my own personal opinion and is not meant to be a recommendation of the purchase or sale of stock. The investments and strategies discussed within this article are solely my personal opinions and commentary on the subject. This article has been written for research and educational purposes only. Anything written in this article does not take into account the reader’s particular investment objectives, financial situation, needs, or personal circumstances and is not intended to be specific to you. Investors should conduct their own research before investing to see if the companies discussed in this article fit into their portfolio parameters. Just because something may be an enticing investment for me or someone else, it may not be the correct investment for you.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #FreedomAlliance--130 veterans will join members of SoCal's sportfishing community for the ninth annual War Heroes on Water (WHOW) Presented by loanDepot.
Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO – Free Report) by 2.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,513,008 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 67,290 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. owned 0.22% of Southern worth $240,519,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Marble Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Southern during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $4,443,000. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Southern by 121.4% in the 4th quarter. Mawer Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,767,773 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $154,150,000 after buying an additional 969,493 shares during the last quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp increased its stake in Southern by 29.2% in the first quarter. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp now owns 50,628 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,887,000 after acquiring an additional 11,448 shares during the last quarter. MUFG Securities EMEA plc raised its position in Southern by 114.2% during the fourth quarter. MUFG Securities EMEA plc now owns 45,112 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $3,934,000 after purchasing an additional 24,056 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Glenmede Trust Co. NA raised its position in Southern by 19.1% during the first quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 92,289 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $8,908,000 after purchasing an additional 14,798 shares in the last quarter. 64.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Southern Trading Down 0.7% NYSE SO opened at $82.87 on Friday. Southern Company has a fifty-two week low of $82.83 and a fifty-two week high of $100.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.79. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $90.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $93.33. The stock has a market cap of $95.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.33.
Southern (NYSE:SO – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The utilities provider reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $6.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.23 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 12.93% and a net margin of 15.43%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.79 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Southern Company will post 4.59 earnings per share for the current year. Southern Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 17th were given a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 17th. Southern’s payout ratio is presently 72.90%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Southern from $100.00 to $97.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 13th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Southern from $102.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 27th. Mizuho set a $106.00 price target on Southern in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Southern from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 18th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Southern from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, September 19th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $99.85.
View Our Latest Report on Southern
About Southern (Free Report)
Southern Company (NYSE:SO) is an energy holding company that provides electricity and natural gas services through a group of regulated utility subsidiaries. Its electric utilities generate, transmit and distribute power to residential, commercial and industrial customers, while its gas businesses distribute natural gas and provide related energy services.
The company’s principal electric subsidiaries include Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power. Southern Company also operates Southern Nuclear, which manages the company’s nuclear generation interests, including the Vogtle nuclear expansion in Georgia.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Southern Hims & Hers Slides Nearly 7% as Legal Pressure Adds to Its Growing List of Risks Paychex Plunges, Providing the Entry Investors Have Been Waiting For The Case for Buying High-Yield General Mills Just Strengthened SanDisk’s $1,800 Breakout Turns Memory Hardware Into a Profit Story Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO – Free Report).
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Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) has been on a downward spiral lately with significant selling pressure. After declining 7% over the past four weeks, the stock looks well positioned for a trend reversal as it is now in oversold territory and there is strong agreement among Wall Street analysts that the company will report better earnings than they predicted earlier.
We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.
RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.
Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.
So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.
However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.
Why SO Could Bounce Back Before LongThe heavy selling of SO shares appears to be in the process of exhausting itself, as indicated by its RSI reading of 22.64. So, the trend for the stock could reverse soon for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.
This technical indicator is not the only factor that calls for a potential rebound for the stock. There is a fundamental indicator as well. A strong agreement among sell-side analysts covering SO in raising earnings estimates for the current year has led to an increase in the consensus EPS estimate by 0.1% over the last 30 days. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.
Moreover, SO currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Data centers are quietly reshaping which utility stocks deserve a spot in an income portfolio, and four regulated electric companies just locked in contracts that could rewrite their dividend growth stories for the next decade.
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Regulated electric utilities look like the most boring corner of the income market, right up until you notice that data centers grew from 1.9% of total US electricity consumption in 2018 to 4.4% in 2023, with projections of 6.7% to 12% by 2028. That surge is landing directly in the rate bases of the four regulated electric utilities below, and rate-base growth is what funds regulated utility dividends. Every name here just reaffirmed or raised 2026 guidance, and every one is fielding gigawatts of hyperscaler load. For retirees who care first about the dividend showing up and second about how it grows, that combination is worth a closer look.
Southern Company (SO) Southern Company (NYSE:SO | SO Price Prediction) yields 3.5% at a share price of $83.82, with an annualized dividend of $2.98 per share. The most recent quarterly declaration stepped up to $0.76 from $0.74, extending a payment history that the raw records show stretches back to 1999 without interruption.
On safety, trailing EPS of $4.15 comfortably covers the $2.98 dividend, and management now expects full-year 2026 adjusted EPS “near or at the top of our 2026 adjusted EPS guidance range of $4.50 to $4.60”. Operating margin runs 29.6% and return on equity is 11.5%. The bull case is a Southeast rate base being fed by real load: data-center usage was 55% higher than in the second quarter of 2025, Georgia Power signed a 3.2 gigawatt 25-year contract for electric service with OpenAI, and total contracted large load now sits at over 17 gigawatts by the mid 2030s. Retail base rates in Georgia and Alabama are expected to remain stable until 2029, which reduces political and regulatory friction on the coming capex wave.
Risk: Southern Power flagged roughly $205 million pre-tax in 2026 and $120 million in 2027 of accelerated depreciation from wind repowering, and the Illinois Commerce Commission is scrutinizing Nicor Gas capex, either of which can chip at earned ROE.
American Electric Power (AEP) American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) yields 3.14% at $118.40 and pays $3.78 per share annually. The quarterly rate stepped from $0.93 to $0.95 beginning with the November 10, 2025 ex-date, and the raw payment record shows uninterrupted quarterly ex-dividend entries from 1999-02-08 through 2026-08-10.
Coverage is straightforward: trailing EPS is $5.78 against the $3.78 dividend, with return on equity at 10.1%. Management raised full-year 2026 operating EPS guidance to $6.25 to $6.55, from $6.15 to $6.45, and reaffirmed annual operating earnings growth of 7% to 9% with a CAGR expected greater than 9% through 2030. The income case is the capex plan: a $78 billion five-year plan for 2026 through 2030 that produces nearly 11% rate-base CAGR, on top of 69 gigawatts of contracted load additions through 2030, of which 45 gigawatts sit in Texas. AEP has locked in approximately $5 billion in Department of Energy loans, including up to $3.3 billion for AEP Texas transmission, keeping financing costs (and future rate impacts) contained.
Risk: the Q2 EPS number came in at $1.36 vs $1.48 consensus, an 8.2% miss tied to the 2025 transmission minority-interest sale and tax timing. Pair that with the 14% to 15% targeted FFO-to-debt ratio and an ATM equity program, and the funding stack has to keep working for the dividend growth math to keep working.
Duke Energy (DUK) Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) yields 3.66%, the highest in this bundle, at a price of $114.70 with a $4.26 annual payout. CFO Brian Savoy explicitly framed the recent bump, saying “In July, we increased our quarterly dividend payment, marking over 20 years of consecutive annual dividend increases”, with the quarterly rate stepping to $1.085 from $1.065.
Trailing EPS of $6.64 covers the $4.26 dividend, and management reaffirmed 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $6.55 to $6.80 plus a long-term earnings per share growth rate of 5% to 7% through 2030, with confidence in the top half of that range beginning in 2028. Duke targets a 15% longer-term FFO-to-debt ratio, which Savoy said “has substantial cushion to our downgrade thresholds”. The bull case is scale and location: Duke is “executing on the industry’s largest regulated capital plan, deploying more than $1 billion per month”, has secured 7.8 gigawatts of data-center electric service agreements, and sees a 15.4 gigawatt pipeline beyond that. The North Carolina rate case delivered a 9.8% allowed ROE with a 53% equity capital structure, a constructive outcome for a franchise this size.
Risk: the balance sheet is heavy. Duke carries total liabilities of $144.23 billion against $201.09 billion of assets, and higher depreciation on a growing asset base plus coal-ash remediation cost uncertainty keep interest-rate sensitivity front and center.
Xcel Energy (XEL) Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) yields 3.23% at $70.88, with an annualized dividend of $2.325. The quarterly cash dividend has been $0.5925 in Q1 and Q2 2026, up from $0.57 through 2025. Management targets annual dividend increases of 4% to 6% and a target dividend payout ratio of 45% to 55%, which is the most explicit dividend policy of the group.
Trailing EPS is $3.66 against the $2.325 dividend, and Xcel reaffirmed 2026 ongoing EPS guidance of $4.04 to $4.16 per share with a long-term view of nine plus percent EPS growth on average through 2030. Q2 EPS of $0.93 vs roughly $0.78 expectations was a clean beat, and operating income grew 22.36%. The bull case is a large-load pipeline anchored by a Landmark Google data-center electric service agreement in Minnesota projected to deliver about $1.1 billion in customer benefits, plus line of sight to $70-plus billion of total investments over the five-year plan. Xcel expects to secure an additional four gigawatts of data-center load by year end 2027.
Risk: leverage and wildfire exposure. Total debt sits at ~$37 billion (61% of total capitalization), Smokehouse Creek Fire Complex estimated losses run $503 million with only ~$80 million insurance coverage remaining, and Marshall Wildfire settlements total $640 million. Moody’s carries a negative outlook on XEL unsecured debt, which raises the cost of the ongoing capital program.
Bringing the Bundle Together Four regulated electric utilities, four different geographies, one identical setup: rate-base growth funded by hyperscaler and industrial load, translated into growing dividends through the regulated compact. Duke offers the highest yield and the most explicit dividend-streak claim, Southern pairs a rate-stable Southeast footprint with the OpenAI anchor tenant, AEP has the largest capex plan and fastest rate-base CAGR, and Xcel provides the cleanest published dividend policy. For income portfolios that need the check to arrive every quarter and grow at inflation-plus, this is the group doing the quiet work. (Utilities are only one slice of the AI infrastructure trade; we profiled seven more suppliers, from power to cooling to networking, in a free report you can grab here.)
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In the latest close session, Southern Co. (SO - Free Report) was down 1.97% at $83.47. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.76%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.68%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 1.13%.
Shares of the power company have depreciated by 5.36% over the course of the past month, underperforming the Utilities sector's loss of 4.18%, and the S&P 500's gain of 1.26%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Southern Co. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.65, up 3.13% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $8.34 billion, up 6.56% from the prior-year quarter.
SO's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $4.59 per share and revenue of $31.04 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +6.74% and +5.02%, respectively.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Southern Co. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed a 0.1% increase. Southern Co. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Investors should also note Southern Co.'s current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 18.55. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 16.62.
Investors should also note that SO has a PEG ratio of 2.27 right now. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. SO's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.46 as of yesterday's close.
The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 104, positioning it in the top 43% of all 250+ industries.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.
